Govt. will ensure speculative media reports are not made in ‘sensitive’ Nimisha Priya case, Attorney General tells SC

The Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani on Monday (August 25, 2025) informed the Supreme Court the Union government would ensure in its press briefings that no speculative media reports were made till the case of Nimisha Priya, a Malayali nurse sentenced to death in Yemen by a trial court in 2020 for the murder of a local man, reached its final resolution.

Appearing before a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, the top law officer said the government was working to save the woman’s life. He advised quiet, and to not “muddy the water”.

“The Government of India periodically briefs the press, particularly on this case. Despite that, some media have reported this or the other… The government is fully alive to the sensitivity of the matter and in its press briefing will ensure that no further such media reports are made till the case gets its final resolution,” Mr. Venkataramani submitted.

The court was hearing a petition filed by evangelist K.A. Paul complaining about media reports concerning Nimisha Priya’s case and ongoing negotiations. The petition was dismissed as withdrawn.

“I do not want the petitioner or somebody else saying ‘I am the saviour’... Something is happening, and as long as we keep quiet…”  Mr. Venkataramani indicated.

Senior advocate Ragenth Basant, appearing for a group of citizens working for the release of the nurse, said they were willing to assist the government in any way possible.

In an earlier hearing, Mr. Venkataramani had said the government was working relentlessly to save the life of the nurse. Ms. Nimisha Priya was sentenced to death in Yemen by a trial court in 2020 for the murder of a local man who was her business partner. 

Her appeals were dismissed by the appellate courts of that country.