NEW DELHI: Countdown has begun for a decision in the case that will decide the political career of cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu. The Supreme Court began hearing the final arguments in the culpable homicide case involving the three-time Amritsar MP as the prime accused. A bench of Justices J Chelameswar and Sanjay J Kaul started hearing the appeal filed by Sidhu and co-accused in the road rage case as his lawyer defended him in the opening arguments.
Senior advocate RS Cheema represented Sidhu, along with senior lawyer R Basalt who argued for co-accused Rupinder Singh Sandhu. Cheema gave a summary of the case before the bench, beginning with a narration of the case which has been pending before the SC since 2007. The prosecution said on December 27, 1988, when Gurnam Singh asked the occupants of Gypsy to give way to his car. Sidhu got out, allegedly dragged Gurnam out and gave him fisticuffs. After the assault, both, Sidhu and Sandhu sped away and reportedly also took away the keys of Gurnam's car along with them. Gurnam was declared dead when he was taken to a hospital.
Both the accused were initially tried for murder in connection with the death of the Patiala resident in a road-rage case in 1988. But they were acquitted by a Patiala Sessions judge in 1999. The state government and the son of the deceased then challenged this verdict in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Subsequently, Sidhu and Sandhu were sentenced to three years in jail each by the High Court in 2006. Their conviction had come under Section 304(II), culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Sidhu appealed against the verdict in the Supreme Court, which stayed his conviction and suspended the sentence in January 2007.
After the HC judgment, while Sidhu had challenged his conviction, son of the victim and an injured eye witness also moved the top court for enhancing Sidhu's punishment. Former Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar and former Additional Solicitor General Sidharth Luthra are set to argue on behalf of the duo who want Sidhu's punishment enhanced. It remains to be seen whether Punjab government fields any senior lawyer to defend its own prosecution, particularly in view of the fact that Sidhu is a serving minister in the state government at the moment.
Sidhu's political career hinges dangerously on the outcome of the case. It will also be an opportunity for his political opponents to rake up the case to embarrass the Congress government in Punjab. Also, if Sidhu's conviction and sentence is upheld, he will be disqualified from his office under the Representation of the People Act.
