Patiala: Former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu was on Saturday released from Patiala Central Jail after being behind the bars for 10 months.
Clad in a blue jacket, the former Team India opener Siddhu walked out of prison escorted by police personnel. He had a book in his hand and was seen greeting his supporters, Congress leaders and workers who had gathered outside the Patiala Jail.
Watch the video clip of Sidhu leaving jail, posted by several Twitter users:
Sardar Navjot Singh Sidhu released after spending 10 months from Patiala Jail. pic.twitter.com/gZH98R42Hz
— Aditya Goswami (@AdityaGoswami_) April 1, 2023
The 59-year-old Sidhu, who was a two-time BJP MP from Amritsar before joining Congress, was sentenced to 1-year rigorous imprisonment last year by the Supreme Court in a 1988 road rage case in which 65-year-old Gurnam Singh lost his life.
Sent to prison on May 20, 2022, Sidhu was released before completion of his term due to good conduct during imprisonment, his lawyer informed.
He received a grand welcome as supporters chanted ‘Navjot Sidhu zindabad’ and played ‘dhol’.
There were several posters and hoardings of Sidhu put up at different places in Patiala city.
A tweet from Sidhu’s account, which was managed by his team in his absence, said on Friday: “This is to inform everyone that Sardar Navjot Singh Sidhu will be released from Patiala Jail tomorrow… As informed by the concerned authorities.”