Karan Sidhu, son of Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Saturday that he is suspecting that the jail authorities are delaying his father's release due to the presence of a huge crowd and media outside the Patiala jail.
"I am suspecting that they are delaying his release due to the presence of media and crowds here. Jail authorities have assured me that he will be released today. They had said that he will be released at noon, but it's late now:" Karan Sidhu was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI.
Cricket legend and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu is scheduled to be released from the Patiala Jail today (April 1) after being imprisoned for ten months. The politician had been convicted by India's Supreme Court in a road rage case in 1988.
Fans of the Indian cricketer flocked to the Patiala Jail to celebrate Sidhu's early release. Several Congress leaders and supporters gathered outside the prison to greet the 59-year-old former cricketer and chanted 'Navjot Sidhu zindabad' upon his release.
His supporters waiting outside the jail had also arranged for 'Dhol' players to greet the cricketer-turned-politician.
Navjot Sidhu supporters put up posters and hoardings in various locations throughout Patiala to welcome him.
The former state Congress chief was jailed on 20 May last year after the Supreme Court sentenced him to one year in prison for the death of 65-year-old Gurnam Singh in a road rage case in 1988.
According to the jail manual, the cricketer-turned-politician is being released early because he has not used any of his four monthly leave days since last year. These leave days were deducted from his sentence.
Furthermore, Sidhu's good behaviour during his prison was considered.
Sidhu's lawyer, HPS Varma, stated on Friday that the release was delayed due to Sidhu's good behaviour while imprisoned, as allowed by the rules.