The Nimisha Priya case took an unexpected turn on Monday (July 21, 2025) when Abdul Fatah Mahdi, brother of the victim Talal Abdo Mahdi, levelled serious allegations against Samuel Jerome, a media activist. Mr. Jerome was accused of misappropriating funds collected in Nimisha Priya’s name.

Mr. Mahdi alleged that Mr. Jerome misrepresented himself as a lawyer and had collected donations, including $40,000 raised through a crowd funding, without the involvement or knowledge of the victim’s family in Yemen. Mr. Mahdi challenged Mr. Jerome to disprove his allegation.

“After the (Yemeni) President gave the green light for the execution, I met him (Mr. Jerome) in Sanaa, and he greeted me with a broad smile, saying ‘Congratulations’,” said Mr. Mahdi in a Facebook post.

Mr. Mahdi also accused Mr. Jerome of trading on “our spilled blood” under the banner of mediation. “The truth will be revealed if he does not stop his deceitful narrative,” he warned.

Council dissociates from Jerome

The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, meanwhile, dissociated itself from Mr. Jerome.

According to Subhash Chandran K.R., the council’s legal advisor, Mr. Jerome abandoned the group on December 28, 2024, soon after receiving $20,000 transferred through the embassy on December 27. “His departure was apparently triggered by the council’s scrutiny of his actions,” said Mr. Chandran.

Mr. Chandran said the action council distanced itself from Mr. Jerome, vice chairperson Deepa Joseph and member Babu John after they allegedly insulted the individuals handling the mediation efforts following the July 15 postponement of the execution by Yemeni authorities.

“They questioned the validity of the stay order and insulted Sunni leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar and Yemeni Sufi scholars involved in mediation, falsely claiming they were not part of it,” said Mr. Chandran.

The council offered its apologies to Talal Mahdi’s family for the anguish caused by various persons involved. According to Mr. Chandran, both Nimisha Priya’s and Talal Mahdi’s families were victims of deception.

Meanwhile, Chandy Oommen, MLA, visited Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar in Kozhikode and thanked him for his intervention leading to the postponement of Nimisha Priya’s execution scheduled for July 16. Mr. Oommen requested Mr. Aboobacker Musliar to continue his involvement and support for the safe release of Nimisha Priya.