JBT scam: HC extends O P Chautala's interim bail till tomorrow

Former Haryana Chief Minister O P Chautala's interim bail has been extended till tomorrow on medical grounds by the Delhi High Court in the JBT teachers' recruitment scam.

The 78-year-old Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief has been on interim bail since May 21 on medical grounds and recently underwent a pacemaker implant surgery.

Justice Veena Birbal, who took up the matter as the interim bail of Chautala was expiring today, extended it by one more day and fixed the case for tomorrow before a bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul which has been hearing it.

Justice Mridul did not hold the court today.

On May 21, the court had granted six week's interim bail to Chautala to undergo the pacemaker implant surgery.

Later, on July 4, the court extended the bail period and had also asked the INLD leader to obtain an elaborate report on his health conditions from the hospital.

Chautala had sought extension of his interim bail, saying that he continues to be in a fragile state of health, besides being severely affected by various disabilities.

He had said he required constant extra care during the period of three months and constant follow up and clean and stress free environment.

The INLD leader along with 54 others had been sentenced to a ten-year imprisonment by a trial court in the 2000 teachers' recruitment scam.

He had moved high court challenging his conviction and also sought bail for undergoing pacemaker implant.

A medical board was also constituted on court's direction.

The board, which comprised a doctor from Tihar Jail and one specialist each from AIIMS, RML Hospital and GB Pant Hospital here, in its report had suggested that the veteran Haryana politician needs a pacemaker implant in his heart.

On January 22, the trial court had convicted and sentenced Chautala and nine others, including his son Ajay Chautala, to 10 years jail term for illegally recruiting 3,206 junior teachers in 2000.