Punjab: Sidhu Brought To Patiala Hospital For Checkup. Jails Dept Dismisses Claims Over His Safety

It was claimed that former Punjab Congress chief Navjor Sidhu had to share his barrack with an accused booked in drugs and illegal weapons cases. 

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu brought to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala for a medical checkup. ( Image Source :ANI )

New Delhi: Navjot Singh Sidhu, former president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, was on Monday brought to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala for a medical checkup. He was lodged in Patiala central jail on May 20, just hours after he approached the Supreme Court seeking a few weeks to surrender and undergo the one-year imprisonment in the 1988 road rage case. Notably, the Patiala Jail department has also clarified that there has been no lapse in the Congress leader's security.

According to a report by the Tribune, the concerns being raised about Sidhu's security were dismissed by the Jails department which stated that there is no lapse on part of Patiala jail administration as "protocol is being meticulously followed." 

The clarification came as it was claimed that the former PPCC chief had to share his barrack with an accused booked in drugs and illegal weapons cases. 

Sidhu's friend Rupinder Singh, who was acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2018 in the road rage case, had expressed concern about his security in Patiala Jail. He said that Sidhu holds the “key to the future of the state and its youths”, and asked the jail administration to ensure round-the-clock security and “keep a close eye on anyone getting close to Sidhu”.

Congress leader Hardayal Singh also remarked that illegal activities continue to take place inside Punjab prisons and the authorities should ensure "strict vigil is kept on a senior leader like Sidhu", the Tribune reported.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia who challenged Navjot Singh Sidhu in the Amritsar East seat during the recent Punjab assembly election, is also lodged in the same jail as him. Both lost the seat to AAP's Jeevan Jyot Kaur.

1998 Road Rage Case

The SC had on Thursday sentenced Sidhu to one-year rigorous imprisonment in the 34-year-old 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, Gurnam Singh, had died in the incident.

When reporters sought Sidhu's reaction to the verdict on Thursday, he had declined to comment. However, he had later tweeted to say he "will submit to the majesty of the law".

Though the apex court had in May 2018 held Sidhu guilty of the offence of "voluntarily causing hurt" to the man, it had spared him a jail term and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000.

Gurnam Singh's family had sought a review of the judgment, which was allowed by the SC.

(With Agency Inputs)