Court to sentence MP Rasheed Masood in MBBS seat scam

A Delhi court Tuesday will pronounce the quantum of punishment on Rajya Sabha member Rasheed Masood, held guilty in a case of corruption and for other offences.

Special CBI Judge J.P.S. Malik Sep 19 held Masood guilty of fraudulently nominating undeserving candidates from across the country to the MBBS seats allotted to Tripura medical colleges from the central pool.

Masood, a Congress member of the Rajya Sabha, was found guilty of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating) and 468 (forgery). However, he has been acquitted of the charge of using as genuine a forged document under Section 471 IPC.

The provisions under which Masood has been convicted attract imprisonment up to seven years.

After the Supreme Court struck down a law that provided immunity to members of parliamednt and state legislatures from immediate disqualification, Masood will lose his Rajya Sabha seat.

During the arguments on quantum of sentence, the Central Bureau of Investigation that probed the case sought seven years' jail term for Masood, saying the "law-maker has become the law-breaker".

Masood was the minister of health in the 11-month V.P. Singh government between 1990 and 1991.