Dubai: The 17 Indians on death row in UAE for killing a Pakistani man were officially pardoned on Wednesday by the family members of the deceased after an Indian businessman deposited a sum of Rs 40.47 million in a blood money deal.
The development brings the possibility of their being released and returned home nearer, with the judge setting a September 12 date for giving a verdict in the case.
Dubai-based businessman SP Singh Oberoi deposited the money on behalf of the Indian community as compensation in the Sharjah Appeals Court hearing the case of the 2009 murder.
The development came during the 16th hearing of the case, with Rs 40.47 million (3.39 million dirhams) being submitted as the blood money.
According to the office of the Consulate General of India in Dubai, a representative of the deceased named Ramadan, signed the 'Tanazul' or release document which was then accepted by the judge.
"The process of a mutually agreeable understanding led by the Indian community, in particular, SP Singh Oberoi, reached a closure today. The Hon'ble Judge Abdullah Al Shamsi has now convened the court on September 12, 2011 to deliver a judgement in this matter," a statement from the Consulate General said.
"Today's developments in the Sharjah Appeals Court were the most significant since April 2010 when the appeal process was initiated by the Government of India-appointed defence lawyers," it said.
Speaking to PTI earlier, Oberoi had said that he had already submitted a portion of this money at a previous hearing. "We first persuaded the victim's family through Ramadan into accepting compensation, which was critical to this case," he said.
"Once that agreement was reached, we just had to arrange for the remaining amount of money to be produced in court," Oberoi said.
In March last year, the 17 Indians were found guilty of beating Pakistani national Misri Khan to death. The 17 men held - 16 from Punjab and one from Haryana - would still have to serve time in jail, but a lawyer said they may be released soon as they have already spent more than 26 months in prison.
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