The central government has conveyed to the Supreme Court its limited capacity to intervene in the impending execution of Nimisha Priya, a Kerala nurse sentenced to death in Yemen. Priya faces execution on July 16th for the murder of a Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mehd, in 2017.

Nimisha Priya's case stems from a business partnership with Talal Abdo Mehdi in Yemen, where she started a clinic in 2015. According to Priya and her advocates, the situation deteriorated when Mehdi allegedly stole funds, physically threatened her, and confiscated her passport. In 2017, in an attempt to retrieve her passport and documents, Priya allegedly sedated Mehdi, who subsequently died. With the help of another nurse, she dismembered and disposed of his body in a water tank. Priya was arrested in August 2017 near the Yemen-Saudi Arabia border. In 2018, she was convicted of the murder and sentenced to death.

The Supreme Court is hearing a plea seeking the Centre to use diplomatic channels to save Nimisha Priya. The court has acknowledged the urgency of the matter. The primary avenue for potential resolution lies in securing a pardon from the victim's family, potentially through the payment of "blood money". Priya's family has offered $1 million as blood money to the victim's family in an attempt to save her life.

However, the victim's family has been unwilling to accept blood money. The gravity of the charges against Priya has further complicated relief efforts.

Nimisha Priya's appeals were rejected by Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023, though the option of blood money was left open. As of early January 2025, Priya's mother was in Sanaa, working on negotiations with Mehdi's family. In late December 2024, the Yemeni president approved Priya's death sentence.

Various political parties and organizations have appealed to the Indian government to intervene. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stated it is aware of the sentencing and is providing all possible assistance.

The "Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council," has been actively working to negotiate for Priya's release. Despite these efforts, time is running out, with the execution scheduled for July 16th. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the plea on July 14.