The Delhi High Court acknowledged the MEA’s statement and called the situation “unfortunate”. The court then disposed of the plea filed by Shahzadi Khan’s father, Shabbir Khan, who had asked the Indian government to confirm his daughter’s legal status.
New Delhi: Shahzadi Khan, an Indian woman who was sentenced to death in Abu Dhabi, was executed on February 15, 2025, as per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The MEA informed the Delhi High Court about her execution on Monday.
The MEA was represented in the Delhi High Court by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma. He told a bench led by Justice Sachin Datta that Shahzadi Khan’s last rites would take place on March 5 in Abu Dhabi. The ministry also assured that it would provide full assistance to her family for the process.
The Delhi High Court acknowledged the MEA’s statement and called the situation “unfortunate”. The court then disposed of the plea filed by Shahzadi Khan’s father, Shabbir Khan, who had asked the Indian government to confirm his daughter’s legal status.
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Background of the Case
Shabbir Khan had filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking confirmation of his 33-year-old daughter’s legal status.
Shahzadi Khan, originally from Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, went to Abu Dhabi in December 2021 on a legal visa. She started working as a caregiver in August 2022 for her employer’s newborn baby boy.
On December 7, 2022, the baby received routine vaccinations. However, the child passed away later that evening.
According to Shabbir Khan, the infant’s parents refused to conduct a postmortem and instead signed an agreement that waived any further investigation.
Shahzadi Khan’s Conviction and Execution
Following the baby’s death, Shahzadi Khan was handed over to Abu Dhabi police on February 10, 2023. The Abu Dhabi court sentenced her to death on July 31, 2023.
Shabbir Khan also accused the Indian Embassy’s legal counsel of forcing his daughter to confess and not giving her proper legal representation. He claimed that a February 2023 video confession was made under torture by her employer and their family.
Her appeal was rejected in September 2023, and the death sentence was reaffirmed on February 28, 2024.
On July 11, 2024, Shabbir Khan submitted a mercy petition to the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, but he did not receive any response.
On February 14, 2025, just one day before her execution, Shahzadi Khan called her father from prison, informing him that her execution was imminent.
Following the execution, the Indian government assured support to the family for the last rites in Abu Dhabi. The case has raised concerns about legal representation for Indians abroad and the role of the Indian Embassy in such cases.
