A petition filed in the Supreme Court on Monday (July 14, 2025), demanding to save Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who was jailed in Yemen, from the death sentence. Attorney General R. Venkatramani told the court that the central government can interfere in this case only to a limit. The Ministry of External Affairs has requested to avoid punishment in both formal and informal methods, but the Yemen government has not given any concrete assurance.
The Attorney General said that the government also spoke to the Sheikh of Yemen, but to no avail. There is no effect on the Yemen government. He told the court that informally got such information that the hanging will be postponed, but we do not know whether this method will work or not. He said that this is not an area where the government can go beyond the prescribed limit and do something.
According to the report of the Bar and Bench, the judge asked him whether blood money has been arranged. The Attorney General said that the victim’s family was talked about, but he says that it is a matter of respect, so he will not accept it. We do not know whether there will be any change in their decision due to giving more money, but at the moment the situation is stable.
Blood money is a kind of economic compensation, which is given to the victim’s family on behalf of the guilty. If the family of the deceased forgives on his own free will, then the convict has to pay the fixed amount.
The Attorney General said that the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs is also present in the court and he also told everything. He said that even at 10.30 am, Yemen was talked to to stop the hanging, but no result was found. AG said that it can also prove to be unfavorable, it is all very confidential.
During the hearing, the petitioner also said that good people are unable to do anything here because it is Yemen. He said that we are also ready to give more blood money. The Attorney General agreed to his point and said that the problem is that we cannot say that he will do it and he will listen to us.
The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing for Friday (July 18, 2025). The court asked the government and the petitioner to inform him about the situation on the next date. Nimisha, who hails from Kerala, has proved to be a blame for murder, he is to be hanged on 16 July. The petition has demanded the intervention of the Government of India, on which the court sought an answer from the government.
(With input from Nipun Sehgal)