New Delhi, Aug 25 (HS): The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking a ban on media reporting and public comments in the case of Nimisha Priya, a Kerala nurse facing death sentence in Yemen. The bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath rejected the petition filed by Christian evangelist Dr. K.A. Paul.

During the hearing, Attorney General R. Venkataramani, representing the Centre, assured that the government has been briefing the press from time to time and continues to monitor media reporting on the matter. Senior advocate R. Basant, appearing for the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, also submitted that they would refrain from addressing the media.

Dr. Paul stated that he was working with the government to secure Priya’s release, claiming that the victim’s family was prepared to pardon her but was upset over reports suggesting they had accepted blood money. He clarified that his plea was not seeking a blanket gag on the media. Basant, however, asserted that the victim’s family must first grant pardon before the issue of blood money could arise. The apex court observed that it had no jurisdiction over proceedings in Yemen and, therefore, could not intervene.

On August 14, the Court was informed that Priya faced no immediate threat and that negotiations were underway. Earlier, on July 18, the Centre had assured that it was making all possible efforts to halt her execution.

Priya’s death sentence was upheld by a Yemeni court on March 7, 2022, in connection with the 2017 killing of Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi. She was accused of administering a drug overdose along with another nurse, leading to his death. The trained nurse had set up a clinic in Sana’a in 2014 with Mahdi’s help, as foreign nationals could not do so independently under Yemeni law. Their relationship later turned hostile, with Mahdi allegedly harassing her and withholding her passport, before the fatal incident occurred.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar