'Nothing much we can do': Centre to Supreme Court on Kerala nurse's execution in Yemen
PTC News Desk: The central government submitted its response on the plea that sought its immediate intervention in the execution of Kerala nurse in Yemen. The government informed the Supreme Court that there isn't much it can do to secure the release or prevent nurse's execution.
"It is unfortunate... there is a point till which we can go. We have reached it," Attorney General R Venkataramani representing the central government said.
"Looking at the sensitivity of Yemen, it's not diplomatically recognised. Blood money is a private negotiation," he further added.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta heard the matter on the public interest litigation filed under the banner 'Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council' and its counsel told the bench "The only way is if the family (of the Yemeni man) agrees to accept the 'blood money' (i.e., financial compensation)."
Ms Priya is scheduled to be executed July 16, i.e., Wednesday.
Nimisha Priya, a native of Kerala is accused of drugging and murdering her local business partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi, a Yemeni national, with the help of another nurse. Her challenge to the charges was dismissed by the court.
"There's a point till which the government of India can go. We have reached that. Yemen is not like any other part of the world. We didn't want to complicate the situation by going public. We are trying at a private level, some Sheikh, influential people there, all that is being done," the Attorney General told the court.
According to reports, the victim's family is unwilling to accept blood money, which is arguably the only option to prevent the impending execution.
"There's no way we can get to know what's really happening. We have been trying utmost possible. It's not a matter where govt can be asked to do something beyond. It's very unfortunate," Attorney Venkataramani said.
- PTC NEWS
