Two Indian nationals from Kerala, Muhammed Rinash Arangilottu and Muraleedharan Perumthatta Valappil, were executed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 28, 2025, after being convicted of murder. The UAE’s highest judicial authority, the Court of Cassation, upheld their death sentences, raising questions about the circumstances leading to the verdict.
Rinash, a resident of Kannur district, was working at a travel agency in Al Ain when he was convicted for the murder of an Emirati national.
Reports suggest that his mother submitted a petition to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, asserting that the incident was accidental. According to her plea, Rinash allegedly killed the Emirati national while trying to escape from what she described as the torture of a mentally challenged individual.
Muraleedharan was executed for killing another person. Detailed information about the nature of the crime and the circumstances surrounding it remains limited.
Sources in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the executions and stated that all possible consular and legal assistance had been extended to the accused. “Mercy petitions were filed but were ultimately rejected by the apex court. Officials are now in contact with the bereaved families, assisting them with the last rites,” said an MEA official.
The execution has sparked an outpouring of grief and calls for justice from the families of the deceased. Rinash’s mother, in particular, has been vocal about the alleged injustice, maintaining that her son acted in self-defense. The family’s appeal to the Kerala government reflects a growing concern over the lack of clarity and transparency in the trial.
This incident comes barely two weeks after a woman from Uttar Pradesh was executed in Abu Dhabi on February 15, 2025, for the murder of an infant. The rapid succession of these executions has raised concerns among the Indian community in the UAE and human rights organisations, who have called for a more transparent legal process and better diplomatic interventions in such cases.
India’s diplomatic challenge
The recent executions pose a diplomatic challenge for India, which has a significant expatriate population in the UAE. With over 3.5 million Indians residing in the Gulf nation, ensuring their safety and fair treatment under the local legal system remains a critical issue.
The MEA’s statement emphasised that the Indian Embassy had extended comprehensive legal assistance to Rinash and Muraleedharan throughout the trial. However, the rejection of the mercy petitions and the lack of clarity regarding the evidence presented during the trial have left the families and rights groups dissatisfied.
As the families of Rinash and Muraleedharan prepare for the final rites, their appeals for justice continue to echo, underscoring the need for a more proactive and transparent approach to handling similar cases in the future.
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