12-07-2006, 11:01 PM
On what basis was the lower court judgement overturned? I think sidhu was getting too popular in punjab and that Capt Amrinder got him sent to jail. Do we know anything about the judges who presided over the case? Were they handpicked by congresswalas? Just a thought!
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sidhu gets 3-yr jail, bail till Jan 31
Pioneer News Service | Chandigarh/Amritsar
Fans relieved, Amritsar happy
The Punjab and Haryana High Court awarded former cricketer and BJP MP from Amritsar, Navjot Singh Sidhu, three-year rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh in a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The court suspended the sentence and granted bail to Sidhu and co-accused Rupinder Singh Sandhu till January 31 to allow them to file an appeal in the Supreme Court. The court directed the accused to furnish bail bond of Rs 10,000 each, with the surety of the same amount before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Chandigarh on or before December 8. Â
Sidhu speaks to the Press outside Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh - Pioneer photo
Justices Mehtab Singh Gill and Baldev Singh Sidhu ordered Sidhu to pay Rs 90,000 out of the total fine of Rs 1 lakh to the widow of the deceased - Gurnam Singh - and remaining Rs 10,000 to prosecution witness Jaswinder Singh.
Â
The court pronounced the judgement in a jam-packed court where BJP leaders, including National General Secretary Arun Jaitley and former BJP MP Satya Pal Jain, were also present. Sidhu's supporters, even from Amritsar, crowded outside the court since morning.
Jaitley spoke for the BJP-Akali Dal (Badal) combine in the State and said Sidhu will work for the alliance in the coming Punjab Assembly elections. "Sidhu is a dedicated worker and he will continue to work for the party," he said.
Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) chief Parkash Singh Badal said Sidhu has won the hearts of people and will continue to work for SAD-BJP.
Badal said Jaitley has instructed Sidhu to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court at the earliest.
Sloganeering partymen greeted Sidhu as he came out of the court building. They surrounded him and police faced a tough time in escorting the former cricketer to his car. Sidhu immediately left for Badal's residence.
Reacting to the judgement, Sidhu maintained he was not guilty but came to the court in deference to law but that he would appeal against the judgement.
Â
The judges heard the arguments in the morning on the quantum of sentence by the prosecution and defence counsel and reserved the verdict till 3 pm. However, the decision was announced at 3.30 pm.
As a smiling Sidhu walked out of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he was literally mobbed by his supporters and journalists camping outside the court complex since morning. He was greeted with slogans Guru pher ho ja shuru, a phrase often used by Sidhu in a popular TV programme.
The lawyers and litigants in the court were seen taking positions on balconies to have a glimpse of the popular MP, who seemed to have earned sympathy along with the sentence.
A large number of supporters of Sidhu were present outside the court complex with banners reading, "Navjot Sidhu Zindabad".
Â
The High Court had convicted Sidhu on December 4 for causing the death of Gurnam Singh during an altercation in 1988, following which he promptly resigned from the Lok Sabha.
Sidhu was earlier acquitted in the case by Patiala Sessions Court on September 22, 1999.
The incident occurred on December 27, 1988 when Sidhu and the deceased were involved in a violent altercation over car parking. Sixty-five-year-old Gurnam Singh was allegedly dragged out of his car and beat the accused. He was taken to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival. According to medical reports, Gurnam Singh's death had been caused by haemorrhage.
A case under Sections 304, 324, 34 IPC was registered against Sidhu and Sandhu on the complaint of Jaswinder Singh and the appeal against acquittal of Sidhu and his co-accused in the High Court was filed by him, besides the State Government.
Â
But the conviction of Sidhu notwithstanding, cricketers, veteran players, youth and people in Amritsar - the constituency Sidhu represents - feel he would come out of the trouble with more conviction and a refined as a politician.
His fans and admirers are little upset that the cricketer-turned-politician would have to undergo the sentence. Seventyfive-year-old Swaranjit Singh Butt - who had captained the North Zone team which comprised legends like Nari Contractor and Dattu Phadkar, against West Indies in 1959 - said Sidhu played cricket with a straight bat resulting in forceful drives. "Generaly cricketers who play with a straight bat are considered genuine persons in life," he said.
On the whole, a crosssection of Amritsar residents reflected the massive support Sidhu enjoys in his constituency - most felt he is a genuine politician devoted to their welfare.
NGO Citizen Forum president Brij Bedi hoped that Sidhu would emerge as a stronger politician. An assertive leader with indomitable spirit he scouted for the public cause and raised his voice for the needs of the city never thought before. He felt that it could be a blessing in disguise for the young politician and earned him more sympathy of the public. He said that that fateful incident could happen with anybody besides he did not have a criminal background as is the case with several politicians.
Local citizens recall Sindu's achievements by bringing Rs 38 crore for the local municipal corporation from the Congress-ruled Punjab Government, demand for setting up an SEZ and raising his voice for a visa centre for pilgrims and travellers going to Pakistan here. They feel he would come out with flying colours and overcome all problems and once again resume work for betterment of the holy city. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sidhu gets 3-yr jail, bail till Jan 31
Pioneer News Service | Chandigarh/Amritsar
Fans relieved, Amritsar happy
The Punjab and Haryana High Court awarded former cricketer and BJP MP from Amritsar, Navjot Singh Sidhu, three-year rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh in a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The court suspended the sentence and granted bail to Sidhu and co-accused Rupinder Singh Sandhu till January 31 to allow them to file an appeal in the Supreme Court. The court directed the accused to furnish bail bond of Rs 10,000 each, with the surety of the same amount before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Chandigarh on or before December 8. Â
Sidhu speaks to the Press outside Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh - Pioneer photo
Justices Mehtab Singh Gill and Baldev Singh Sidhu ordered Sidhu to pay Rs 90,000 out of the total fine of Rs 1 lakh to the widow of the deceased - Gurnam Singh - and remaining Rs 10,000 to prosecution witness Jaswinder Singh.
Â
The court pronounced the judgement in a jam-packed court where BJP leaders, including National General Secretary Arun Jaitley and former BJP MP Satya Pal Jain, were also present. Sidhu's supporters, even from Amritsar, crowded outside the court since morning.
Jaitley spoke for the BJP-Akali Dal (Badal) combine in the State and said Sidhu will work for the alliance in the coming Punjab Assembly elections. "Sidhu is a dedicated worker and he will continue to work for the party," he said.
Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) chief Parkash Singh Badal said Sidhu has won the hearts of people and will continue to work for SAD-BJP.
Badal said Jaitley has instructed Sidhu to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court at the earliest.
Sloganeering partymen greeted Sidhu as he came out of the court building. They surrounded him and police faced a tough time in escorting the former cricketer to his car. Sidhu immediately left for Badal's residence.
Reacting to the judgement, Sidhu maintained he was not guilty but came to the court in deference to law but that he would appeal against the judgement.
Â
The judges heard the arguments in the morning on the quantum of sentence by the prosecution and defence counsel and reserved the verdict till 3 pm. However, the decision was announced at 3.30 pm.
As a smiling Sidhu walked out of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he was literally mobbed by his supporters and journalists camping outside the court complex since morning. He was greeted with slogans Guru pher ho ja shuru, a phrase often used by Sidhu in a popular TV programme.
The lawyers and litigants in the court were seen taking positions on balconies to have a glimpse of the popular MP, who seemed to have earned sympathy along with the sentence.
A large number of supporters of Sidhu were present outside the court complex with banners reading, "Navjot Sidhu Zindabad".
Â
The High Court had convicted Sidhu on December 4 for causing the death of Gurnam Singh during an altercation in 1988, following which he promptly resigned from the Lok Sabha.
Sidhu was earlier acquitted in the case by Patiala Sessions Court on September 22, 1999.
The incident occurred on December 27, 1988 when Sidhu and the deceased were involved in a violent altercation over car parking. Sixty-five-year-old Gurnam Singh was allegedly dragged out of his car and beat the accused. He was taken to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival. According to medical reports, Gurnam Singh's death had been caused by haemorrhage.
A case under Sections 304, 324, 34 IPC was registered against Sidhu and Sandhu on the complaint of Jaswinder Singh and the appeal against acquittal of Sidhu and his co-accused in the High Court was filed by him, besides the State Government.
Â
But the conviction of Sidhu notwithstanding, cricketers, veteran players, youth and people in Amritsar - the constituency Sidhu represents - feel he would come out of the trouble with more conviction and a refined as a politician.
His fans and admirers are little upset that the cricketer-turned-politician would have to undergo the sentence. Seventyfive-year-old Swaranjit Singh Butt - who had captained the North Zone team which comprised legends like Nari Contractor and Dattu Phadkar, against West Indies in 1959 - said Sidhu played cricket with a straight bat resulting in forceful drives. "Generaly cricketers who play with a straight bat are considered genuine persons in life," he said.
On the whole, a crosssection of Amritsar residents reflected the massive support Sidhu enjoys in his constituency - most felt he is a genuine politician devoted to their welfare.
NGO Citizen Forum president Brij Bedi hoped that Sidhu would emerge as a stronger politician. An assertive leader with indomitable spirit he scouted for the public cause and raised his voice for the needs of the city never thought before. He felt that it could be a blessing in disguise for the young politician and earned him more sympathy of the public. He said that that fateful incident could happen with anybody besides he did not have a criminal background as is the case with several politicians.
Local citizens recall Sindu's achievements by bringing Rs 38 crore for the local municipal corporation from the Congress-ruled Punjab Government, demand for setting up an SEZ and raising his voice for a visa centre for pilgrims and travellers going to Pakistan here. They feel he would come out with flying colours and overcome all problems and once again resume work for betterment of the holy city. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->