Indian billionaire Mohammad Nisham gets 38 years in security guard's death

KERALA , India, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- An Indian court on Thursday sentenced a billionaire tobacco magnate to 38 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the death of a security guard.

Mohammad Nisham, 39, was spared the death penalty demanded by the family of Chandra Bose, 51, a security guard at Nisham's home. Bose was struck by a Hummer driven by Nisham -- described as drunk and angry -- and dragged nearly a half-mile and then stomped on, the court prosecution said.

Nisham has been accused at least 14 times of unsafe and bad behavior in cases typically settled out of court -- three years ago his 9-year-old son was seen in a YouTube appearing to drive a Ferrari. Nisham pleaded for a lenient sentence, saying he has bipolar disorder.

His fine amounts to $1,049,000, $735,000 of which will be given to Bose's family.

"He will come out and will also be well treated in jail. We wanted [the] death penalty. After all, it is a husband, son and father that we have lost," said Bose's wife.

Nisham's lawyers said they will appeal the decision.