Road rage case: Sidhu surrenders; sent in 14-day judicial custody

Chandigarh, Jan 11 (UNI) Chief Judicial Magistrate Y S Rathore today sent cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu and co-accused Rupinder Singh Sandhu in 14-day judicial custody to Patiala Central Jail, pending their appeal in the Supreme Court against the Punjab and Haryana High Court verdict holding them guilty of culpable homicide in a road rage case.

''I am here to submit myself to the majesty of law. I will comply with the directives of the court, irrespective of the consequences,'' a toned-down Sidhu told reporters after the proceedings.

Immediately after the CJM order, the Punjab Police led Sidhu and Sandhu to a jeep and left for Patiala Central jail.

Unlike his earlier flamboyant style, the former BJP MP from Amritsar was today attired in sobre shades of blues and seemed prepared for the stay behind bars. There were three bags, apparently full of clothes and books, with him.

Earlier in the day, Sidhu, who had moved an application in the Punjab and Haryana High Court for surrender, was directed to appraoch the Chief Judicial Magistrate.

According to Sidhu's counsel Satya Pal Jain, his surrender was a legal requirement as the Supreme Court was to hear his plea tomorrow against the December 6, 2006 High Court judgement.

The High court had held Sidhu and Sandhu guilty of culpable homicide of 65-year-old Gurnam Singh in a road rage incident on the night of December 27, 1988 in Patiala.

The HC division bench comprising Justices Mehtab Singh Gill and Baldev Singh had found the 43-year-old ex-cricketer guilty under section 304-Part-II of the IPC for committing culpable homicide not amounting to murder, overturning his acquittal by the Patiala district and sessions court in 1999. The Punjab government had moved the High Court, challenging the lower court verdict.

His co-accused Rupinder Singh Sandhu had also been convicted under section 34 and 323 of the IPC by the High Court.

Sidhu had quit his Lok Sabha seat from Amritsar following his conviction.

EDS: Pls pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI