SHARJAH, May 20 (GT): A philanthropist from the Indian expatriate community has come forward to pay huge sum as compromise money to get 17 Indians released from the Sharjah jail where they are facing death sentence.

SP Singh Oberoi, noted Indian businessman and philanthropist, offered Pakistani Rs10 million (Dhs442,000) to the family of Pakistani national Masri Khan, who was killed in a brawl between two groups which took place in January 2009.

Three other people had also got injured in the scuffle, following which the 17 Indians were awarded death sentence by a Sharia court in Sharjah.

Due to extraordinary nature of the sentence, Consulate General of India in Dubai hired noted lawyer Mohammad Salman and the case was reopened in the Sharjah Appeal Court. However, even after 12 hearings in a year the case is far from over.

Singh came forward as the presiding judge gave the two parties an opportunity to settle the matter amicably as representative of the deceased’s family Mohammad Ramzan had shown interest in accepting compensation money to withdraw the case.

On Thursday when the hearing began, Singh told the court that he was ready to pay Pakistani Rs10 million  to the family of Masri Khan if they were agree for compromise.

The court was also informed that the Indian community leader has had several meetings with Ramzan but they couldn’t reach a settlement. Later, the court granted more time for negotiation by adjourning the hearing till June 16.

However, the negotiated settlement may linger further as an international group of Indians, Sikhs for Justice, has come forward with a much bigger offer for compromise. Baljit Singh, the UAE representative of the New York-based human rights advocacy group, said his group is ready to pay up to Pakistani Rs120 million (approx Dhs5.5 million) to the victim’s family to win freedom for the 17 accused.

“I am confident of convincing the family to pardon the 17 Indians accused of murdering Masri Khan. The amount doesn’t matter much. We are keen on seeing our brethren return to their families in India,” he said.