Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the government’s awareness of the situation. “We understand that Priya’s family is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter,” he said.
Nimisha Priya, who has been in Yemeni custody since 2017, was convicted of killing Mahdi in 2018 after a trial in Yemen. Despite the sentence, her family has been fighting tirelessly for her release.
Priya’s mother, Prema Kumari, travelled to Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, earlier this year, hoping to secure a pardon for her daughter and negotiate “blood money” with Mahdi’s family. The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, which consists of NRI social workers based in Yemen, has been supporting her efforts.
However, negotiations hit a roadblock in September after the lawyer hired by the Indian Embassy demanded additional funds, which the Action Council had worked hard to raise. According to K Babu, Nenmara MLA, the community raised $40,000 (approximately ₹34.2 lakh) to support the legal battle but was unable to resolve it.
“We worked tirelessly to save Nimisha Priya’s life, but our efforts ended in vain,” he said, adding that political leaders from all parties had rallied behind the cause.
Priya, who moved to Yemen in 2014, had initially come into contact with Mahdi, who promised to assist her in opening a clinic in Yemen per local laws. They formed a business partnership in 2015, but tensions soon arose. Priya claimed that Mahdi abused and tortured her, even confiscating her passport, which made her unable to return home.
Reports indicate that Mahdi misrepresented himself as Priya’s husband to Yemeni authorities, preventing her from seeking help. In a desperate bid to recover her passport, Priya allegedly injected Mahdi with sedatives, but the dosage led to his death.
