Supreme Court to review punishment in Sidhu's road rage case
The Supreme Court has decided to review its verdict in a 1988 road rage case involving Congress party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu. This means that the top court will now examine if the cricketer-turned-politician should face tougher charges than previously ruled in the three-decade-old case. Sidhu—the Congress's Punjab unit chief—has been given two weeks' time to respond to the SC's notice.
Why does this story matter?
The SC's decision might be seen as a setback for Sidhu, who has been seeking quashing of the case. Sidhu, a former cricketer, was named in a three-decade-old road rage case in which he was accused of assaulting a 65-year-old man. To date, there are contrary claims as to what had led to the latter's death.
SC hearing review plea from victim's family
The Supreme Court was hearing a review petition filed by the victim's family. During the hearing, the family's advocate Sidharth Luthra sought punishment against Sidhu under graver offenses. Sidhu, on the other hand, said he should not be punished further in the case. He cited his "impeccable political and sporting career in the last three decades" and his philanthropic work to make the argument.
A brief history of the case
Sidhu had allegedly hit a 65-year-old Gurnam Singh during an argument over a car parking in December 1988. He was accused of murder but Sidhu maintained that Singh had died of a cardiac arrest. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had convicted Sidhu of culpable homicide and awarded him a three-year jail term. However, in 2018, the Supreme Court set aside that order.
What's next for Sidhu?
In its 2018 verdict, the Supreme Court had held Sidhu guilty of voluntarily causing hurt to the victim and imposed a fine of Rs. 1,000. It, however, spared him of a jail term. This time, Sidhu may face a jail term of one year should the apex court decide to swap the fine with imprisonment under Section 323 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Elections in Punjab
Sidhu, who lost the race to become Congress's chief ministerial face in Punjab to sitting CM Charanjit Channi, is contesting the Assembly election from the Amritsar (East) seat. The Grand Old Party is fighting to retain power in Punjab following months of bitter infighting. Poll results will be declared on March 10. In the last state election, it won 77 of 117 total seats.
