1988 Road Rage Case: Navjot Singh Sidhu’s first night in prison

Navjot Singh Sidhu, the former Punjab Congress President spent his first night in prison where he rejected the served dinner citing illness excuses and simply took to fruits for dietary reasons.

Navjot Singh Sidhu, the former Punjab Congress President, surrendered before the Patiala Court on Friday and was assigned the number 241383 at the Patiala jail.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court condemned Sidhu to one year in prison in a 1988 road rage case. Sidhu was sent to jail after surrendering and being subjected to a medical checkup.

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Sidhu was assigned a prisoner number and transferred to barrack number 10, where he will share a cell with eight other criminals serving murder sentences, according to reports. Sidhu will sleep on a cement bed in the barracks, according to sources.

Sources say Sidhu was served dal and roti at 7.15 p.m. yesterday, as per the jail manual. He denied it, citing illness as the reason. He simply consumed salad and fruit.

Sidhu’s media advisor Surinder Dalla said Sidhu has requested a particular diet since he is allergic to wheat and has a liver ailment, and that he hasn’t eaten roti in a long time. As a result, he has requested a particular diet. Surinder added, “He also shared information on the same during the medical checkup yesterday.”

Four pairs of white kurta-pyjamas, a chair-table, a cabinet, two turbans, a blanket, a bed, three sets of underwear. And a vest, two towels, a mosquito net, a copy and a pen, a pair of shoes, two bedcovers. And two pillow covers have been presented to the former Punjab Congress chief.

Sidhu had previously been given a Rs 1,000 fine in March 2018. Sidhu has now been sentenced to the maximum penalty under Section 323 of the Indian Penal Code.

On May 15, 2018, the Supreme Court of India overturned a Punjab and Haryana High Court decision convicting Sidhu of culpable homicide and sentenced him to three years in prison in the case, finding him guilty of inflicting harm to the victim, Gurnam Singh, a senior citizen.

In September 2018, the Supreme Court agreed to consider a review petition. Which was submitted by the victim’s relatives and sent him a notice.

His wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, claimed the issue was being pursued at the request of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikramjit Majithia just before the Punjab elections earlier this year.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court rejected Gurnam Singh’s family’s request that Sidhu be found guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under the Indian Penal Code. The judge, however, condemned him to a year in prison.