‘Only option is blood money settlement’: Centre to Supreme Court on Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya’s execution case in Yemen; calls it a ‘complicated difficulty’ | India News

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court that it has restricted capability to intervene in the case of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala who is dealing with execution in Yemen for homicide, calling it a “very complex issue” with few diplomatic levers out there. Appearing earlier than a bench headed by Justice Sandeep Mehta, the Attorney General of India (AGI) stated, “There’s no way we can know what’s happening [in Yemen].” He added that the federal government is in contact with Yemeni authorities, together with the general public prosecutor, and is attempting to delay Priya’s execution whereas discussions proceed. The court docket was knowledgeable that the one viable option left to save Priya’s life is a blood money, settlement, offered the household of the deceased Yemeni nationwide is keen to settle for it. “The parties may apprise the Court on the next date about the status of the case,” the bench famous in its order whereas scheduling the following listening to for July 18. Nimisha Priya, who has been imprisoned since 2017, is at present being held in Sana’a Central Prison and is tentatively set to be executed on Tuesday, July 16. The apex court docket took up the matter after senior advocate Ragenth Basant talked about it for pressing listening to. The plea, filed by the Save Nimisha Priya Action Council, seeks authorities intervention by way of diplomatic channels. The court docket had earlier directed that a copy of the petition be served to the AGI and requested the Centre to inform the court docket of the steps taken up to now.According to information company PTI, a supply stated, “The family of the deceased, Talal Abdo Mehdi, is not even willing to accept blood money. All legal efforts have been made for Nimisha Priya, but the allegations against her were so grave that all efforts have failed.” Priya, a nurse from Kollengode in Kerala’s Palakkad district, moved to Yemen in 2008 and labored in hospitals earlier than opening her personal clinic. In 2017, she reportedly acquired into a dispute along with her enterprise accomplice, Talal Abdo Mahdi, over alleged misappropriation of funds. According to her household, she injected him with sedatives to get better her confiscated passport, however the dosage led to his demise. Priya was arrested whereas trying to flee the nation and was convicted of homicide in 2018. A trial court docket in Sanaa sentenced her to demise in 2020, and Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council upheld the decision in November 2023. However, the Council additionally saved open the option of a blood money settlement, in accordance with Sharia legislation. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has additionally urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act instantly. In a letter despatched Sunday, Vijayan wrote, “Considering the fact that this is a case deserving sympathy, I appeal to the Hon’ble Prime Minister to take up the matter and intervene with the authorities concerned to save the life of Smt. Nimisha Priya.” He referred to earlier appeals made in February and March 2025. Priya’s mom, Prema Kumari, has travelled to Yemen in an try to negotiate a blood money settlement. Her efforts have been supported by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, a collective of NRI social employees working in Yemen.