Supporters feel dejected as Navjot Sidhu's name not on list of five prisoners to be released from Punjab jails

Mohali, February 4: Supporters of Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu are a dejected lot as their hopes of Sidhu's early release under the Amrit Mahotsav Scheme have been dashed to the ground.   

There were widespread speculations that Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has completed six months of one-year jail sentence awarded to him in a road rage case, will be getting special remission under the Amrit Mahotsav Scheme. His supporters had made all arrangements to welcome the leader on January 26. However, even after 10 days, there is no word on his release. He is currently lodged in the Patiala jail. 

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Moreover, his name did not figure in the list of five prisoners, whose names were cleared by the Punjab Cabinet for special remission on Friday. The Cabinet has cleared the names of just three prisoners --- Lakhvir Singh, Ravinder Singh and Taspreet Singh --- for sentence remission under the Amrit Mahotsav scheme. The other two are Anirudh Mandal and Shambhu Mandal. The name of Navjot Singh Sidhu is not on the list. 

1988 road rage case

In May last year, the Supreme Court had awarded one year jail to Navjot Singh Sidhu in a 1988 road rage case. He had surrendered before a court on May 20 and was sent to Patiala Central Jail.

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