This Article is From Oct 26, 2016

Navjot Singh Sidhu To Face Trial In 2009 Election Case, Says Supreme Court

Navjot Singh Sidhu To Face Trial In 2009 Election Case, Says Supreme Court

Navjot Singh Sidhu quit the BJP last month ahead of Punjab elections due next year.

Highlights

  • Mr Sidhu accused of wrongdoings during 2009 Lok Sabha election
  • Had allegedly violated poll expenditure cap, having officers transferred
  • Former cricketer was BJP member at the time; he quit last month
New Delhi: Navjot Sidhu has been asked by the Supreme Court to face trial in a case in which his election in 2009 has been challenged by a rival candidate.

Mr Sidhu, 53, had appealed against the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order asking him to face trial.

In 2009, the cricketer-turned-politician won from Amritsar. He was in the BJP at the time.

Mr Sidhu's Congress rival accused him of violating the poll expenditure limit of Rs.25 lakh. He also alleged that he had officers transferred.

Ahead of the election in Punjab early next year, Mr Sidhu has floated a new outfit, the Awaaz-e-Punjab.

He quit the BJP last month after going public with resentment that he had kept to himself after being asked in 2014 to give up Amritsar, his constituency of 10 years, to make way for senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley to contest.
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