Who is SPS Oberoi - NRI businessman from Punjab who saved 10 Indians from death sentence in UAE

Image courtesy: Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust's website

Dubai: An Indian man from Punjab has saved 10 other Indians from death sentence in UAE. 

Ten Indian youths in the UAE will escape the noose for murdering a Pakistani man in 2015 after the victim's family accepted bloodmoney amounting to 200,000 dirhams and agreed to pardon the convicts.

But, who paid this blood money and why?

An NRI businessman for whom philanthropy is a way of life paid this bloodmoney of  Dhs 200,000 to victim's family.

SPS Oberoi is the Chairman of Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust. This Trust donated blood money for the accused men.

According to SPS Oberoi, it was a tough task to obtain pardon from the Pakistani family.

SPS Oberoi is a Dubai-based businessman.

Also, Oxford University had bestowed an honorary doctorate on him for his philanthropic activities.

He is a native of Punjab.

Oberoi said Riaz had been invited from Pakistan three days ago, with all arrangements, including a visa and accommodation being made by his trust.

"We somehow made him agree...and as per the Sharia law, have submitted Dhs 200,000 as blood money in the court," Oberoi said.

He said his Pakistani manager traveled to Peshawar and talked to the family and their relatives to secure the pardon.

Mohammad Riaz, the father of Mohammad Farhan, appeared in the Al Ain appeals court on March 22 and submitted a letter of consent to pardon the accused Indians.

"It was unfortunate that I lost my son. I appeal the young generation not to indulge in such fights. I have forgiven these 10 individuals. In fact, Allah has saved their lives. Lives of at least 10 people, including a wife and children, hinge [financially] on one person [who comes to work in the UAE]," Riaz said.

On behalf of the accused, an Indian charity organisation deposited the blood money in the court and the case has been adjourned for further hearing on April 12, said Dinesh Kumar, Counsellor, Community Affairs at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Murder case

On December 8, 2016, the murder allegedly occurred during a brawl over bootlegging in Al Ain in December 2015. 

Eleven men from Punjab were convicted in the case but one was spared the death sentence.

Convicted men

All the convicted young Indian men are from poor families and worked in Al Ain as plumbers, electricians, carpenters and masons.

Most of them in their twenties had paid huge sums to recruitment agents in India to secure a visa to reach the UAE.