Navjot Sidhu walks out of jail after 10 months

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu walked out of jail on Friday after spending about 10 months in Patiala's central jail.

Congress leaders and his supporters have gathered outside the prison to give him a grand welcome upon his release. 'Dhol' players have also been arranged by his supporters standing outside the jail to welcome the cricketer-turned-politician, according to a report in PTI. Also, Sidhu's posters and hoarding have been put up at many places in Patiala city by his supporters.

The cricketer-turned-politician will address the media outside Patiala jail "around noon", his official Twitter account handled by his team wrote.

Speaking to reporters at his residence on Saturday, Sidhu's son Karan Sidhu said the family has been eagerly waiting for his release from the jail. He said it had been a tough time for the family but now they were happy to see him coming out of the jail.

Congress leader and former MLA Navtej Singh Cheema said people of Punjab are waiting for Sidhu to come out of jail.

#WATCH | Punjab: Dhols being played outside the jail in Patiala where Former Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was jailed in a road rage case, will be released today. pic.twitter.com/ktALjRs4qG

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2023

The former state Congress chief was jailed on May 20 last year after being sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court over the death of 65-year-old Gurnam Singh in a road rage case in 1988.

Sidhu's lawyer HPS Varma on Friday had said the release was happening earlier due to Sidhu's good conduct during imprisonment, as allowed under the rules.

Sidhu's family had got an intimation from authorities regarding his release from the Patiala jail.

Last May, the Supreme Court had sentenced Sidhu to one-year rigorous imprisonment in the road-rage case, saying any undue sympathy in imposing an inadequate sentence would do more harm to the justice system and undermine the public confidence in the efficacy of law.

A 65-year-old man had died in the road rage incident.