Former National Roller and Ice Skating champion Jagraj Singh has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Delhi court for killing a man in a fit of extreme rage three years ago.

Additional Sessions Judge I S Mehta, who found 45-year-old Singh guilty of murdering Ravi Chaudhary by hitting him with his speeding vehicle and dragging the body to about 20 yards, also slapped a Rs 5,000 fine on him.

If Singh fails to pay the fine, he will have to undergo simple imprisonment for another three years, the judge said.

"The threats to the deceased, hitting the deceased by his vehicle [Gypsy] and thereafter dragging the deceased to 20 yards before making him fall down, clearly showed that the accused intentionally caused bodily injuries which he knew to be likely to cause the death of Ravi Chaudhary," the court said.

The incident dates back to April 29, 2000, when Chaudhary and family were returing home from a party in their car when it was hit by Singh's Gypsy. After Chaudhary stopped Singh's vehicle, a quarrel ensued during which the accused abused the deceased in filthy language and threatened him.

Then, Singh drove his gypsy over the deceased and sped away from the location in Central Delhi.

The court relied on the testimony of the victim's wife Shashi Chaudhary, who witnessed the gruesome incident.

"Her statement is truthful, straight and probable. Shashi's statement is corroborated with expert evidence," the court observed.