Sidhu out on bail after a day in jail

He may now be able to contest the Amritsar bypoll

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been convicted in the 18-year old road rage case.

Sidhu had surrendered before the Patiala police on Thursday, a day before his special leave petition was to come up for hearing before the apex court.

But within 24 hours of entering the high-walled Patiala jail, to start his three year jail term for beating one Gurnam Singh to death, Sidhu was granted bail till further orders by the SC, which admitted his appeal for a hearing.

The SC asked the accused to furnish a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and a surety of the same amount before the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Patiala. According to the prosecution, on December 27, 1988, Sidhu and Rupinder got into a heated argument with Gurnam Singh and another person, Jaswinder Singh, over the issue of parking of his car.

Sidhu had dragged Gurnam Singh out of his car and rained blows upon him, resulting in injuries. When Jaswinder tried to intervene, Rupinder beat him up.

Later, the accused fled from the spot.