SC sentences Navjot Singh Sidhu to one-year rigorous imprisonment

'Will submit to the Majesty of Law', says the Congress leader

NEW DELHI/PATIALA: Observing that consequences of loss of temper must be borne, the Supreme Court on Thursday enhanced the sentence of Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu to one-year rigorous imprisonment in a 1988 road rage incident in which a 65-year-old man had died.

Sidhu, 58, took to Twitter to say he "will submit to the majesty of the law" as the cricketer-turned-politician rode an elephant in Patiala earlier in the day to register a symbolic protest against the rising prices of essential commodities.

According to the Additional Solicitor General of India Satyapal Jain, Sidhu is left with no other option but to surrender before the police. If Sidhu does not surrender, police will have to arrest him, officials said. He will then be put in Patiala jail, they said.

The apex court said in the tempers given circumstances, may have been lost but then the consequences of the loss of temper must be borne, adding any undue sympathy to impose an inadequate sentence would do more harm to the justice system and undermine the public confidence in the efficacy of law.

The court, which gave its verdict while allowing the review plea filed by the family of the victim on the issue of a sentence, said the principle of just punishment is the bedrock of sentencing in respect of a criminal offence.

Though the apex court had in May 2018 held Sidhu guilty of offence of "voluntarily causing hurt" to Gurnam Singh, who was declared dead in a hospital, it spared him a jail term and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000.

Gurnam's family thanked the Almighty and said they are satisfied with the jail sentence for Sidhu.