Teachers' scam: Chautala seeks extension of interim bail

The Delhi High Court Monday issued notice to the CBI on a plea of former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, sentenced to 10 years' jail for irregularities in appointment of teachers in 2000, seeking extension of his interim bail on medical grounds.

Justice Siddharth Mridul sought response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by July 4 on Chautala's plea for extension of his interim bail. He was granted interim bail on May 21 for pacemaker implant surgery at Gurgaon's Medanta Hospital and it expires on July 4.

Filing the plea, Chautala said that his pacemaker implantation was done on June 3 and the doctor had advised him to come for regular checkups for three months.

"He continues to be in a fragile state of health, besides being severely handicapped by various disabilities. He required constant extra care during the period of three months and constant follow up. He requires a clean and stress free environment," said the plea.

The 78-year-old Chautala also sought court's permission to visit his native village Chautala in Haryana.

The plea added: "It is prayed that the interim bail granted to appellant (Chautala) be suitably extended and he may be permitted to reside with his family at his native village Chautala in Sirsa district of Haryana after discharge from the hospital."

Apart from heart ailment, Chautala, chief of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), is also suffering from several old-age-related problems.

A trial court in the capital had sentenced Chautala, his son Ajay Chautala and eight others to 10 years in jail. One convict was sentenced to five years in jail, while 45 others were each handed out four-year jail terms.

Chautala and the other accused were found guilty of illegally recruiting 3,206 junior basic trained teachers in Haryana in 2000.