Two Indians, who are facing death sentence in (United Arab Emirates) UAE for killing a compatriot are set to be released this month as their death penalty was commuted by a Sharjah Sharia court after Rs. eight lakh was paid in blood money to the family of the victim.

The two youths – Talwinder Singh and Paramjit Singh – from Punjab had been awarded death sentence in Sharjah for bootlegging and murdering another Indian from Andhra Pradesh.

The duo were in prison since 2009 for murdering Chinna Ganganna Chepuri from Hyderabad. The case was being heard at a Sharia court in Sharjah.

“We have paid blood money, which alongside other expenses, have cost around Rs 10 lakhs. Their death penalties have been waived and they will now only get three years of jail, which they have almost served,” S P Singh Oberoi, a local businessman and founder president of Indian Punjabi Society told PTI.

Oberoi said the verdict was delivered on Tuesday after a pardon letter was signed by the family of the victim.

“It will take around a week to 10 days for the two Punjabis to be released,” Oberoi, who has been making efforts to get several of such individuals released, said.

Oberoi had paid Rs eight lakh as ‘diya’ or blood money to the family of Chepuri last month.

Earlier, the hotelier was instrumental in securing the release of 17 Indians, who were awarded death penalty for killing a Pakistani in Sharjah. Oberoi had helped raise blood money for the Indians.