New Delhi:

Khan's father, Shabbir Khan, had approached the Delhi High Court seeking clarification on his daughter's legal status after being unable to obtain information from the Indian authorities. He had expressed 'profound uncertainity' about her condition, and his repeated requests to the MEA went unanswered. The plea, which sought to confirm whether his daughter was still alive or had been executed, was filed after Shahzadi reportedly made a final call to her family on February 14, 2025, warning them of her impending execution.

Shahzadi Khan, an Indian woman on death row in the UAE, was executed on February 15, 2025, for the alleged murder of a four-month-old child under her care. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the execution to the Delhi High Court on Monday, informing the court that Khan's last rites would take place on March 5 in Abu Dhabi. The MEA assured full support to her family for the necessary arrangements.

Shahzadi Khan, 33, from Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, was sentenced to death by an Abu Dhabi court on July 31, 2023, after being convicted for the death of an infant. The incident occurred in December 2022 when the child she was caring for passed away following a routine vaccination. The infant's parents, however, refused a post-mortem and signed a waiver for further investigation.

The Delhi High Court, acknowledging the unfortunate situation, disposed of the petition after being informed by the MEA that Shahzadi had been executed. Justice Sachin Datta, who was hearing the petition, described the situation as "very unfortunate."

hahzadi, a child caregiver in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), had been under police custody since February 2023 and was sentenced to death after a video confession emerged, which her defence claims was coerced under duress. Despite legal counsel being provided by the Indian Embassy, her appeal was dismissed in September 2023, and the death sentence was upheld in February 2024.

According to XP Division, MEA, Shahzadi was convicted on charges of murder of an infant and sentenced to death in the UAE. "The highest court of the UAE, the Court of Cassation, upheld the sentence. The Embassy provided all possible legal assistance to Ms. Shahzadi, including sending mercy petitions and pardon requests to the Government of the UAE," it said. The UAE authorities intimated to the Embassy on February 28, 2025, that the sentence of Ms. Shahzadi has been carried out in accordance with the local laws, XP division, MEA, said.

The Indian authorities had arranged for a law firm to represent her during her trial, but the outcome of the case reflects the severe legal consequences for the murder of a child in the UAE. The MEA has assured the family of continued support for her last rites.

Shahzadi Khan went to Abu Dhabi on a legal visa in December 2021. In August 2022, she got a job to take care of a newborn baby girl in a house. On 7 December 2022, the child was given a routine vaccine but died the same evening. The petition said that the child's parents did not allow the post-mortem of the body. Shahzadi was accused of causing the death of the four-month-old child while taking care of her.

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