Sidhu sentenced to three-year RI
Chandigarh, Dec 6: Former BJP MP and popular cricket commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu was today sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment in a case involving him in death due to road rage 18 years ago.
Giving the quantum of punishment, Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and Justice Baldev Singh of Punjab and Haryana High Court suspended the sentence till January 31 to enable Sidhu file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court, which means he will not go to jail.
Extending similar relief, the court also sentenced the other convict in the case Rupinder Singh Sandhu to three years rigorous imprisonment.
Both of them were fined Rs.one lakh each and were directed to furnish a bail bond on or before December 8.
During the arguments on the quantum of punishment before the Bench, the prosecution demanded the maximum ten-year imprisonment for the 43-year-old former MP while the defence sought leniency saying he should either fined or granted probation.
Sidhu, dressed in a blue suit and turban, was present in the jampacked court during the arguments which lasted two hours. BJP leaders Arun Jaitley, Avinash Khanna, Satyapal Jain and Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema were present in the court.
Setting aside the order of a lower court acquitting Sidhu and his accomplice Rupinder Singh Sandhu, the Bench had on December 1 held them guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder of Gurnam Singh on December 27, 1988 in Patiala after which the first-time MP from Amritsar had resigned from the Lok Sabha.
Sidhu and Sandu were on bail in the case which was granted by the High Court on November 29, 2000 while admitting the appeal against his acquittal.
A flamboyant cricket commentator known for wit and humour dubbed as 'Sidhuism', he had played for India in 51 Tests and 136 one-dayers in a 16-year career. (Agencies)
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