Former Haryana chief minister and INLD (Indian National Lok Dal) supremo Om Prakash Chautala and his MLA son Ajay Chautala landed in Tihar Jail on Wednesday evening after they were convicted by a special CBI court for illegal recruitment of 3,206 JBT (Junior Basic Trained) teachers in the state when he was in power in 1999-2000.
Apart from the father-son duo, 53 other persons have also been convicted for the scam, which includes the said whistle-blower in the matter Vidya Dhar, Chautala’s former officer on special duty . The court has fixed 17, 19 and 21 January for hearing the arguments on sentence. The charges under which they have been convicted attract maximum seven-year imprisonment. They may also not be able to contest elections.
Jail sources said that both the INLD legislators have been lodged in the jail number 4 and will live like other inmates. Till few months back, Suresh Kalmadi was in the same jail for the CWG row. They may have to spend a few days in jail as the court will pronounce the quantum of sentence on 22 January. Jail officials said lot of INLD supporters had come at the gate of Tihar jail. These supporters had earlier in the day gathered at Rohini court.
Special CBI judge Vinod Kumar held Chautala, his MLA son Ajay, Sanjiv Kumar, the then Director of Primary Education, Vidya Dhar and Sher Singh Badshami, political advisor to the then Haryana CM and others guilty. Out of the initial 62 accused, six had died during the trial while one had been discharged by the court at the time of framing charges.
The CBI had filed the chargesheet against the Chautalas and others in the case in 2008. INLD sources said they will appeal against the order in higher court after going through the judgment.
Apart from the father-son duo, 53 other persons have also been convicted for the scam, which includes the said whistle-blower in the matter Vidya Dhar, Chautala’s former officer on special duty . The court has fixed 17, 19 and 21 January for hearing the arguments on sentence. The charges under which they have been convicted attract maximum seven-year imprisonment. They may also not be able to contest elections.
Jail sources said that both the INLD legislators have been lodged in the jail number 4 and will live like other inmates. Till few months back, Suresh Kalmadi was in the same jail for the CWG row. They may have to spend a few days in jail as the court will pronounce the quantum of sentence on 22 January. Jail officials said lot of INLD supporters had come at the gate of Tihar jail. These supporters had earlier in the day gathered at Rohini court.
Special CBI judge Vinod Kumar held Chautala, his MLA son Ajay, Sanjiv Kumar, the then Director of Primary Education, Vidya Dhar and Sher Singh Badshami, political advisor to the then Haryana CM and others guilty. Out of the initial 62 accused, six had died during the trial while one had been discharged by the court at the time of framing charges.
The CBI had filed the chargesheet against the Chautalas and others in the case in 2008. INLD sources said they will appeal against the order in higher court after going through the judgment.