Death sentence: Work begins on clemency

New Delhi: NDTV has learnt that the Home Minister has advised President Pratibha Patil to commute the death sentence of R Govindswamy.

He is the first among the 50 people who are awaiting mercy from the death sentence, since 1997.

"The death sentence is commuted to life imprisonment. Prisoner shall remain in prison for the whole of the remainder of his natural life and there shall be no remission of the term of imprisonment. He may also be counseled by spiritual and moral leaders," Chidambaram has said.