Indian woman on death row executed in Abu Dhabi last month; MEA informs Delhi High Court
New Delhi/Abu Dhabi: Shahzadi Khan, an Indian caregiver who had been sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for charges related to the death of a four-month-old child, was executed in Abu Dhabi on February 15. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed the Delhi High Court of her execution on Monday, bringing an end to a prolonged legal battle and appeals for clemency.
The information was conveyed to a bench led by Justice Sachin Datta by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, representing the MEA. The ministry further assured the court that Shahzadi’s last rites would take place on March 5 in Abu Dhabi and that it would extend all necessary assistance to her family to facilitate the process.
The court, while acknowledging the submission, termed the situation "unfortunate" and disposed of the plea filed by Shahzadi’s father, Shabbir Khan. He had approached the Delhi High Court seeking directions for the central government to confirm the legal status of his daughter, fearing the worst after her appeals had been exhausted.
Shahzadi Khan, a 33-year-old caregiver from Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, had been convicted by an Abu Dhabi court in connection with the death of a child under her care. According to court records, she was taken into custody by Abu Dhabi police on February 10, 2023, and was later sentenced to death on July 31, 2023. Her conviction was upheld despite multiple appeals, and her death sentence was reaffirmed by UAE authorities on February 28, 2024.
According to her father's petition before the Delhi High Court, Shahzadi had legally travelled to Abu Dhabi in December 2021 on a work visa. In August 2022, she secured employment as a caregiver for a newborn child in an Emirati household.
However, tragedy struck on December 7, 2022, when the infant received routine vaccinations in the morning but passed away later that evening. While the child’s parents initially refused a postmortem and signed an agreement waiving further investigation, Shahzadi was later accused of wrongdoing and subjected to legal proceedings that resulted in a death sentence.
Shabbir Khan, in his petition, alleged that his daughter was coerced into confessing to a crime she did not commit. He claimed that a video of her purported confession, recorded in February 2023, was obtained through torture by her employer and their family. He further accused the Indian Embassy’s legal counsel of failing to provide adequate legal representation and pressuring Shahzadi into making a confession.
Despite efforts to appeal her conviction, her case was repeatedly rejected by UAE courts. Her final appeal was dismissed in September 2023, and the death sentence was reaffirmed in February 2024.
As a last resort, Shabbir Khan had submitted a mercy petition to the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi on July 11, 2024, pleading for diplomatic intervention. However, he never received a response.
On February 14, 2025, just a day before her execution, Shahzadi reportedly made a distressing phone call to her father from prison, informing him that her execution was imminent.
With her last rites scheduled for March 5 in Abu Dhabi, the MEA has assured the family of its full cooperation in facilitating the process.
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Three arrested for obstructing police while escorting Mahesh Shetty Timarodi
Udupi, Aug 21: Police have arrested three persons for allegedly obstructing duty and ramming a car into a police vehicle while officers were bringing accused Mahesh Shetty Timarodi to the Brahmavar Police Station in connection with a case registered there.
The arrested have been identified as Srujan L., Hitesh Shetty, and Sahan, all residents of Ujire. They were produced before the court, which remanded them to judicial custody. Police said the car used in the incident has also been seized.
According to police, when Timarodi was being escorted from Ujire to Brahmavar, a group of his supporters followed the convoy in their vehicles. Despite repeated warnings not to interfere with police movement, the supporters allegedly continued to obstruct the vehicles. Near Hosmar, under Karkala Rural Police Station limits, they allegedly rammed their car into an official vehicle (bearing registration number KA 20 G 0669) belonging to the Udupi District Additional Superintendent of Police, in an attempt to prevent the police team from taking Timarodi to Brahmavar.
Following the incident, a case was registered at Karkala Rural Police Station. The three accused were later arrested and their car was seized. They have now been placed under judicial custody.
