In a crucial development, the Supreme Court of India on Friday allowed the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council to approach the Central Government for permission to travel to Yemen. The purpose is to negotiate with the victim’s family to obtain a pardon for Nimisha Priya, a Kerala-based nurse sentenced to death in Yemen.
"We are not expressing anything on the demand. File a representation before the government," the bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta stated while hearing W.P.(C) No. 649/2025.
Read also: Kapil Sibal Urges Supreme Court to Stop 'Udaipur Files', Calls It Vilification of Entire Community
The petitioner-organization requested the Court to let a few of its members, along with a representative of Kerala’s Sunni Islamic cleric Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musaliyar, travel to Yemen. Reportedly, the cleric’s prior intervention led to a stay on the execution.
Senior Advocate Ragenth Basant, appearing for the petitioner, told the Court:
"First step is that the family forgive us, then second stage is blood money... Yemen has a travel ban unless relaxed by the Government. Let 2-3 members and one cleric's representative go to Yemen."
Read also: High Court: Jail Imprisonment Can’t Be Ground to Reject Appeal Against Property Freezing Under
He added that the execution, initially scheduled for July 16, has been postponed, and thanked the Indian government for its informal efforts so far.
The Attorney General R Venkataramani, however, remained cautious:
"I don’t think anything can formally happen at this time. We will consider, but don’t put it on record. The victim’s family and power of attorney must handle the negotiations directly."
"We don’t want anything counter-productive. We want the woman to come out safely," the AG added.
Background of the Case:
Nimisha Priya, a 36-year-old Indian nurse, has been sentenced to death for the 2017 murder of Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi, her alleged business partner. She claimed Talal forged documents showing her as his wife and held her passport captive while subjecting her to mental and physical abuse.
Read also: Isha Foundation Moves Supreme Court to Restrain Nakkheeran from Publishing Alleged Defamatory Content
In an attempt to retrieve her passport, Priya injected Talal with ketamine, which allegedly resulted in his death due to an overdose. She was convicted and sentenced to death in 2018. Her appeal was rejected by Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council in 2023, and her sentence was formally approved by the Yemeni President.
Despite the execution being briefly stayed, the victim’s family has since stated they will not pardon her.
Earlier, Priya’s mother approached the Delhi High Court seeking permission to travel to Yemen. In November 2023, the Centre told the court that Yemen’s apex court had already dismissed the appeal. The High Court then directed the Government to act on her representation.
Under Shariat law, pardon through "blood money" is possible if the victim’s family agrees. Recently, Priya's family offered $1 million (Rs. 8.6 crore) as blood money to Talal's family.
The Supreme Court will now hear the matter further on August 14.
Case Title: SAVE NIMISHA PRIYA INTERNATIONAL ACTION COUNCIL Versus UNION OF INDIA AND ANR., W.P.(C) No. 649/2025