The Congress government in Punjab on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to uphold the conviction of one of its own ministers, Navjot Singh Sidhu, in a three-decade-old road rage case.
The Congress government in Punjab on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to uphold the conviction of one of its own ministers, Navjot Singh Sidhu, in a three-decade-old road rage case.
Sidhu is a Cabinet minister in Amarinder Singh government and holds multiple portfolios including Cultural Affairs and Tourism.
A Lawyer appearing for the Punjab government told the Supreme Court on today that the statement given by Sidhu denying his involvement in the case was false, ANI reported.
The government has appealed to the top court to uphold 3-year imprisonment awarded to Sidhu by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The incident dates back to 1988 when Sidhu had allegedly hit one Gurnam Singh, 65, in an incident of road rage at Patiala, Punjab, resulting in the death of Gurnam.
The trial court had acquitted Sidhu, whereas the Punjab and Haryana High Court reversed his acquittal, convicting him under Section 304 Part II, IPC, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Sidhu moved the Supreme court challenging the High Court's order sentencing him and co-accused Rupinder Singh Sandhu to three years in jail. During the hearing at the Supreme Court on March 22, the cricketer-turned-politician submitted that he was innocent.
Sidhu added that it was also being proved by the medical report that Gurnam died due to sudden heart failure. On March 22, the SC had begun hearing the appeal that has filed by the former cricketer.
Meanwhile, the victim's family has appealed to the Supreme Court that the 3-year imprisonment awarded by the High Court should be enhanced.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing final arguments in the 30-year-old case.
Last month, the Income Tax (I-T) department sealed two of his bank accounts for non-payment of taxes. His tax dues stand at Rs 52 lakh, payments were to be made towards dress expenses (Rs 28,38,405), tour and traveling expenses (Rs 38,24,282), salary expense (Rs 47,11,400) and petrol and diesel expenses (Rs 17,80,358).
The I-T department sealed his bank accounts as he had failed to present bills of the expenditure shown in his tax returns filed for the assessment year 2014-15.
(With ANI inputs)
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 "Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu")
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