Deep Sidhu dead in Sonipat accident: 12 things we know so far
Deep Sidhu made headlines during the farmers' agitation between 2020 and 2021, and especially after the Republic Day clashes. He was a Punjabi actor with a sizeable social media following before getting embroiled in the controversy. But he is no more.
Deep Sidhu was killed in a road accident on February 15, 2022. The news came as a shock to many of his supporters.
Here’s what we know so far about the incident:
1. Deep Sidhu died when the white Scorpio he was driving hit the trailer of a truck on KMP (Kundli-Manesar-Palwal) Highway, near Pipli in Haryana.
Visuals of the car from the accident site. Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu died in a road accident after he rammed his car into a standing truck near Pipli toll at Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway, as per Haryana Police pic.twitter.com/WL2MzT1hYd
— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2022
2. Deep Sidhu was accompanied by fellow actor Reena Rai, who has survived the accident with no major injuries. India Today reports that Rai is out of danger.
3. The accident occurred around 9 pm on Tuesday. Sidhu and Rai were travelling from Delhi to Bhatinda.
4. Sidhu and Rai were rushed to nearby Kharkhoda Health Centre following the accident. Dr Nitin Phalswal, incharge of Emergency at the Centre, told India Today that Deep Sidhu was brought dead to the hospital in an ambulance at 9 pm.
5. Dr Phalswal said that Sidhu had visible severe forehead injury and as per initial medical examination, it was determined that the head injury led to the actor’s death.
Visuals of Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu's car who died in a road accident.His car crashed into a stationary truck near Pipli toll at Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway. Police team at the spot. https://t.co/NzCan24Jtz pic.twitter.com/zixLtaxrHJ
— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2022
6. Dr Phalswal also said that Reena Rai was brought to the hospital in a second ambulance, and she complained of back pain. However, Rai has not suffered any external or major injuries. Rai also told the doctor that she was asleep at the time and was woken up by the shock of the accident.
7. After the post-mortem, his mortal remains will be taken to Ludhiana for final rites at the Ghuman estate.
8. It remains unclear whether the car rammed into a moving or stationary truck. Reports say that the truck applied brakes, when Sidhu's Scorpio crashed into it. However, Deep Sidhu’s brother Surjeet has filed a complaint with the Sonipat police against an unnamed truck driver under Sections 279 of IPC for rash driving and 304A of IPC for causing death by negligence. The driver has been identified and a search is underway. The police also found 'partially consumed' liquor from Sidhu's car.
It's a case of rash & negligent driving. FIR registered. The driver has been identified, teams trying to nab him. We retrieved a partially consumed liquor bottle from Deep Sidhu's car. Viscera sample collected, further action after analysis of FSL report: Rahul Sharma, Sonipat SP pic.twitter.com/fHLd85l7dx
— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2022
9. Surjeet alleges that the truck driver suddenly applied brakes, causing the accident. Based on Reena’s Rai account, Surjeet also claims that the truck applied the brakes suddenly, despite there being no vehicles ahead of the vehicle, and also that the parking lights of the truck were not visible.
10. Security has been heightened at Sonipat Civil Hospital as family and supporters of Deep Sidhu reached the hospital.
11. Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and several others offered condolences over 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.
— Charanjit S Channi (@CHARANJITCHANNI) February 15, 2022
12. While the actor-cum-activist had gotten in the crosshairs of the ruling BJP government during the farmers' agitation, he was also a controversial figure among the farmers' unions. After the Republic Day incident, several unions distanced themselves from the actor. And a while ago, Sidhu had even threatened some farmer leaders to ‘expose’ their ‘secrets’.
WHO WAS DEEP SIDHU?
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Deep Sidhu was a man of many shades. He was a lawyer before turning a model and an actor. He appeared in 8 Punjabi films and became popular after playing the role of a gangster in Jora Das Numbaria in 2018.
Deep Sidhu entered politics campaigning in 2019 for BJP MP Sunny Deol. On the Republic Day 2021 fiasco, Deol also distanced himself from Sidhu.
Recently, he was busy campaigning for former BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal candidate Simranjit S Mann. And India Today reported he was on his way to Punjab to join the last two days of campaigning for SAD when the accident took place. He had gone to Delhi on February 13, 2022, to attend a meeting regarding OTT platforms.
After the Republic Day clashes, Deep Sidhu even evaded arrest for a while. But he was arrested twice before securing bail. The other passenger involved in the accident, Reena Rai, was also a close friend of Sidhu.
Reportedly, Reena Rai, an NRI, helped Sidhu evade arrest following the Republic Day aftermath, and posted his videos from unknown locations through an IP address based in the US. Reena and Deep's respective Instagram accounts have several posts dedicated to each other, including an Instagram story from Reena on Valentine's Day.