Former Indian cricketer Navjot Sidhu convicted

A former Indian cricketer and member of parliament has been sentenced to three years in prison for manslaughter.

Navjot Sidhu, a flamboyant batsman and now an opposition MP, was convicted of beating up his victim in a parking dispute in 1988. The man later died.{{more}}

Sidhu’s sentence was suspended until 31 January to give him time to appeal in the Supreme Court.

His job as a cricket commentator on Indian TV channels has made him famous for his wisecracks, known as Sidhuisms.

Sidhu, 43, was found guilty on Friday over the attack in the city of Patiala in northern Punjab state 17 years ago.

The high court in Punjab took up the case after appeals by family of the victim, Gurnam Singh, and the state government following Sidhu’s acquittal by a lower court in 1999.

Passing sentence on Wednesday, the judge also ordered the former cricketer to pay a fine of 100,000 rupees (about $2,230).

Sidhu played in 51 Test matches for India between 1983 and 1999, scoring an average 42.13.

He embarked on a political career in 2004, joining the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

He resigned from his parliamentary seat after hearing the guilty verdict last week.

Sidhu is the second high-profile MP to be sentenced for killing someone in as many days.

On Tuesday, former cabinet minister Shibu Soren received a life term for murdering his aide. (BBC)