Ex-officer gets interim bail in medical seat scam

The Delhi High Court Wednesday granted two months' interim bail on medical grounds to former IAS officer A.K. Roy, sentenced to four years in jail in the medical seat allocation scam.

Justice J.R. Midha granted interim bail to Roy, who was a co-accused with disqualified Rajya Sabha member Rasheed Masood, after considering the medical report submitted by the Tihar jail's medical officer as per which he has been hospitalised.

"The CBI has verified the documents relating to treatment taken by the appellant (Roy). The court has also received the report of senior medical officer of Tihar jail, according to which the appellant has been admitted to emergency (ward) of DDU (Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital) on Nov 5 and is still in the hospital," the court said.

It added: "Considering the condition of appellant, it is directed that he be released on interim bail for two months."

The court now posted the matter for Jan 7, 2014.

Roy had moved the high court seeking interim bail on medical grounds.

Justice Midha also issued notice to CBI returnable Dec 10 on an appeal filed by Rasheed Masood seeking suspension of his four-year jail term.

Masood also sought interim suspension of sentence on medical ground. The court asked CBI to submit a status report on his medical treatment.

The court will take up the matter on Dec 10.

Masood (66) was held guilty Sep 19 of fraudulently nominating undeserving candidates from across the country to the MBBS seats allotted to Tripura medical colleges from the central pool.

He was awarded four-year jail term Oct 1 and he is in jail since then.

Masood became the first member of parliament to lose his seat after the Supreme Court struck down a provision that protects a convicted lawmaker from disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal in higher courts.

He was health minister in the 11-month V.P. Singh government during 1989-1990.