Milkha, Congress legislator booked for golf club brawl

Chandigarh, Feb 18 (IANS) Legendary athlete, ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh Monday found himself in the middle of an unsavoury controversy after he was named in a FIR registered by the Chandigarh police following a brawl among high-profile members of the upscale Chandigarh Golf Club here.

The brawl took place Saturday afternoon at the golf club with two members, Congress legislator Randeep Singh Nabha and Lt.Col. (retd.) Vijay Singh Sandhu, allegedly getting into a physical fight with golf sticks.

While Sandhu sustained injuries near his eye and forehead, Nabha was hit on the leg and back. Both landed up in hospital with Sandhu getting stitches. Both sides lodged police cases against each other for assault and intimidation.

The fight took place following arguments between two groups of golfers over playing on the course.

Milkha Singh, 77, whose son Jeev Milkha Singh is an international golfer and one of the top golfing icons in the country, said Monday that he was shocked to learn that he had been named in the first information report (FIR).

“I and former Punjab chief secretary R.S. Mann were not involved in the clash. In fact, we tried to stop both sides from getting into a physical fight. I am shocked that my name has been included in the FIR,” Milkha Singh said here.

But he acknowledged that he was part of the group of golfers that included Nabha.

Police booked Nabha and his partners, Milkha Singh and S.S. Lehal, a former captain of the golf course. A counter case was also registered against Sandhu.

The Golf Club management Sunday suspended Nabha, Lehal and Sandhu from the club.

The Chandigarh golf club is the home ground of top players like Jeev Milkha Singh and Irina Brar.

IANS 2013-02-18 22:38:01