Fact Check: Will Navjot Sidhu’s Punishment In Road Rage Case Be Enhanced?

New Delhi: This is one development that will make Navjot Sidhu — who hopes to be named as Congress party’s chief ministerial candidate ahead of assembly elections in Punjab – a tad apprehensive.

The Supreme Court will, on Thursday, hear a petition to reconsider the cricketer-turned-politician’s quantum of punishment in the 1998 road rage case.

The 65-year-old Gurnam Singh died after Sidhu hit him on the head during an argument over parking of a car in December 1988. Sidhu, who said death was caused by cardiac arrest, was let off with a meagre fine of Rs 1,000 in 2018.

A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Sanjay Kishan Kaul will consider a review petition filed by family members of the late Gurnam. It was the same two-member bench which had issued a notice to Sidhu in September 2018.

The Supreme Court, in May 2018, set aside Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order convicting Sidhu of culpable homicide and sentencing him to a three-year prison term. Sidhu was acquitted of grave charges, but the court held him guilty of causing hurt under Section 323 of IPC (voluntarily causing hurt).

The maximum punishment under Section 323 is a one-year jail term or a fine of Rs 1,000.

Even if Sidhu’s punishment is enhanced to a prison term of one year, it’s unlikely to impact the political career of Congress’ Punjab chief. A jail term of two years or more can result in disqualification of a sitting MP or MLA, under the Representation of the People Act.

Sidhu is seeking re-election from the Amritsar East assembly seat.