Congress MP Rasheed Masood found guilty in MBBS seat allocation case

A Special CBI court has held Rajya Sabha member Rasheed Masood guilty in a case of corruption and other offences.

Masood, Minister of Health in the VP Singh government between 1990 and 1991, was held guilty of fraudulently nominating undeserving candidates to MBBS seats allotted to Tripura in medical colleges across the country from the central pool.

Masood's conviction is the first case after the July 10 Supreme Court judgment that struck down sub-section 4 of Section 8 of Representation of the People, RP Act, under which incumbent MPs and MLAs can avoid disqualification till pendency of the appeal against conviction in a higher court.

According to television reports, Congress member in Rajya Sabha, Masood may be disqualified under the provisions of RP Act that disqualifies anybody who has been convicted under sections of various laws including the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The quantum of punishment on Masood will be pronounced on October 1.