At Sonipat's civil hospital on Wednesday, a team of three doctors conducted a post-mortem examination of Punjab actor and activist Deep Sidhu's body. After then, his body was handed over to his family members.
Sidhu was driving a Mahindra Scorpio when it collided with the back of a truck on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) route last year, after the Red Fort violence during a farmers' march on Republic Day last year. Reena Rai, who was traveling with him from Delhi to Punjab at the time, was unharmed.
“Our team that inspected the scene of the accident found a partially consumed liquor bottle from the car. It is not yet known if Sidhu had consumed it… The viscera has been sent for chemical examination. His family has left for Ludhiana, where they will perform the last rites. They also met his co-passenger (Rai) at the hospital,” Superintendent of Police (Sonipat), Rahul Sharma, remarked.
Sharma said, “The driver has been identified and we are in the process of arresting him. We have registered a case on charges of rash and negligent driving causing death.”
The vehicle was driving at the time of the event, according to police, and there were 25-30 meter long skid tracks on the ground, presumably from Sidhu's automobile. The scene is being rebuilt by police teams, who will submit a report to the district police chief.
CCTV footage from a toll plaza on the KMP has also been obtained, which shows Sidhu's vehicle at 7.15 p.m.
“There were reports that the streetlights on the highway were non-functional at the time. We are checking with the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) to verify if there was a power cut in the area or some other reason,” Sharma further said.
When asked if there was any chance of foul play, he responded yes, “Preliminary investigations so far indicate it was a case of an accident. There does not appear any foul play, as of now. Even his family has not raised any apprehensions of foul play. The driver of the truck, once arrested, will be thoroughly questioned.”
Last year, Delhi Police had filed 25 FIRs against agricultural union leaders and demonstrators for allegedly storming the Red Fort and vandalizing property the day after the farmers' protest on Republic Day. Sidhu and gangster-turned-politician Lakhbir Sidhana were accused of "orchestrating" the incident and "inciting" farmers in one of the FIRs. They were charged with rioting, criminal conspiracy, assassination attempt, and robbery.
Senior police officers alleged that video clips uploaded on social media by demonstrators showed Sidhu speaking to the audience along the tractor march's route. On February 9 of last year, he was apprehended by the Delhi Police Special Cell.
In April, a Delhi court granted Sidhu release, but he was re-arrested from Tihar Jail by the Delhi Police Crime Branch for allegedly "damaging" Red Fort, according to a report filed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
During his remand proceedings, the Delhi Police said that Sidhu was "the major rioter and instigator" and that he was seen in a video wielding "swords, sticks, and flags during the mayhem on January 26." He apparently "congratulated the person who hoisted the (Nishan Sahib) flag at Red Fort and also did a Facebook Live from the spot," according to the allegations.
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi remarked in a tweet hours after Sidhu's death: “Deeply saddened to learn about the unfortunate demise of renowned actor and social activist, #DeepSidhu. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family and fans.” On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: “Deeply saddened to learn about the unfortunate demise of Deep Siddhu. My sincerest condolences for his family and friends. God bless his soul.”
Read more: Deep Sidhu accused of riots on r day died in a car accident
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