Yaatham Jeeva, a 27-year-old driver from Andhra Pradesh, is stuck in a Saudi prison for five years after a fatal road accident in Najran that killed a Bangladeshi man.
- A Saudi court ordered blood money of 225,000 Saudi Riyal or about ₹57 lakh.
- The victim family agreed to lower the amount to about ₹29 lakh.
- Jeeva father is a daily wage worker and cannot pay the money.
Yaatham Jeeva is a 27-year-old driver from Mogalturu in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. He has been imprisoned in Najran, Saudi Arabia, for approximately five years following a fatal road accident. The incident on the Najran-Sharurah road resulted in the death of a Bangladeshi national named Malak Miya Uddin. A Saudi court previously mandated a diyah or blood money payment of 225,000 Saudi Riyal, which is approximately ₹57 lakh, to the victim legal heirs including his wife and three children. Recent negotiations facilitated by Jani Bhasha who is a representative of the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society or APNRT have reportedly led the victim family to agree to a settlement of approximately ₹29 lakh. Despite this reduction, Jeeva father Nageswara Rao who works as a daily-wage laborer remains unable to afford the sum. The family has sought assistance from local officials, including an appeal to the local Member of Parliament and Union Minister Srinivas Varma, as well as a representation submitted to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu during his recent visit to Mogalturu.
While the Indian Embassy in Riyadh provides consular support, legal guidance, and periodic welfare visits through the Community Welfare Wing and the Indian Community Welfare Fund, it does not automatically cover court-ordered diyah payments. Officials emphasize that financial assistance for such liabilities is limited. The Indian Embassy maintains several resources for citizens in distress, including the MADAD portal and the 24/7 Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra. The Riyadh Embassy can be reached via toll-free number 800 247 1234, helpline 011-4884697, or WhatsApp at +966 54 212 6748. For matters concerning jail or legal aid, the Community Welfare Wing is available at 011-4816348 or via the main line at 011-4884144 with extension 128. Residents in western Saudi Arabia may contact the Consulate General of India in Jeddah at 800 244 0003 or +966 12 6614276. Embassy guidance highlights the importance of maintaining proper documentation, including employment contracts, iqama, insurance, and accident records. While the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana provides some coverage for Ecr-category workers, liability for court-ordered compensation is subject to specific policy terms. Jeeva release remains contingent upon the payment of the settlement amount and the subsequent completion of formal pardon procedures under the Saudi legal system.
