Chautala supporters create chaos outside Rohini court
19 Jan 2013 5:25 AM IST
Hundreds of supporters of O P Chautala, former Haryana Chief Minister and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo, created chaos in the Rohini court on Thursday after his arrival in the court from Tihar Jail. Chautala, his MLA son and 53 others were convicted on Wednesday by the court and they had been brought for the hearing of arguments on his sentencing in the case of illegal recruitment of 3,206 junior teachers in the state.
INLD supporters holding the party flag tried to stop the jail van outside the court and even climbed on to the vehicle, forcing the driver to stop it. They were shouting slogans against the authorities and the police.
The large number of supporters kept on standing outside the court lock-up, where Chautala, his son Ajay Chautala and other 53 convicts are being kept. All the roads leading to the court complex were full of cars and SUVs of INLD supporters and workers. Supporters were also standing outside the court room where the case is being heard. In the court, Chautala’s counsel pleaded for leniency in sentencing citing his ill health and old age. Chautala said he is a diabetic patient and has 70 per cent disability in his right leg and is also suffering from various other ailments.
His counsel also said he has clean antecedents as he has been the chief minister of Haryana for five times and if he would have committed anything wrong, public would not have voted for him. ‘O P Chautala and Ajay Chautala are public figures and their political career has already been demolished after being convicted and sent to Tihar Jail. So, now a lenient view should be taken towards them in sentencing,’ the counsel said.
The CBI sought maximum punishment for all 55 convicts in the case. CBI prosecutors argued that it is a case of economic offence and against the system.
The Section 13(1)(d) and Section 13(2) (criminal misconduct by public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act under which Chautala and his son Ajay Chautala have been convicted entails a maximum sentence of seven-year jail term and minimum of one year. Fifty other convicts, the chairpersons and members of the district level selection committee, have been convicted and face up to life term as punishment.
The court will pronounce the sentence on 22 January.
INLD supporters holding the party flag tried to stop the jail van outside the court and even climbed on to the vehicle, forcing the driver to stop it. They were shouting slogans against the authorities and the police.
The large number of supporters kept on standing outside the court lock-up, where Chautala, his son Ajay Chautala and other 53 convicts are being kept. All the roads leading to the court complex were full of cars and SUVs of INLD supporters and workers. Supporters were also standing outside the court room where the case is being heard. In the court, Chautala’s counsel pleaded for leniency in sentencing citing his ill health and old age. Chautala said he is a diabetic patient and has 70 per cent disability in his right leg and is also suffering from various other ailments.
His counsel also said he has clean antecedents as he has been the chief minister of Haryana for five times and if he would have committed anything wrong, public would not have voted for him. ‘O P Chautala and Ajay Chautala are public figures and their political career has already been demolished after being convicted and sent to Tihar Jail. So, now a lenient view should be taken towards them in sentencing,’ the counsel said.
The CBI sought maximum punishment for all 55 convicts in the case. CBI prosecutors argued that it is a case of economic offence and against the system.
The Section 13(1)(d) and Section 13(2) (criminal misconduct by public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act under which Chautala and his son Ajay Chautala have been convicted entails a maximum sentence of seven-year jail term and minimum of one year. Fifty other convicts, the chairpersons and members of the district level selection committee, have been convicted and face up to life term as punishment.
The court will pronounce the sentence on 22 January.
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