Navjot Singh Sidhu Surrenders Before Patiala Court Day After SC's 1-Yr-Jail Verdict
New Delhi: Former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu surrendered before the Patiala Court on May 20 after he was convicted by the Supreme court in a road rage case in 1988 and received a one-year jail term.
As per reports, Sidhu, who was accompanied by some party leaders, arrived at the district court, which is located close to his residence.
Earlier in the day, the former Punjab Congress chief urged the top court to grant him a few more weeks to surrender on the grounds of his health condition.
Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi who appeared on behalf of Sidhu requested to address the matter before the court but it refused to give permission and instead asked Sidhu to submit a letter. "Can't mention like this," it said.
Sidhu surrendered in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Amit Malhan. The former cricketer-turned-politician was lodged in the Patiala Central Jail after his medical check-up was conducted.
He has been allocated to an ordinary barrack due to the fact that the AAP government in Punjab decided to get rid of the special cells in jails for VIP prisoners last week, citing an end to VIP culture.
The apex court on May 19 increased his punishment to a year of rigorous imprisonment. Four years earlier, the Supreme court had let him off and slapped a fine of Rs 1,000 over the death of a 65-year-old man in a road rage case in 1988. According to reports, this came on a plea from the victim's family.
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