HC refuses to extend bail of Congress leader Rasheed Masood

The Delhi High Court today refused to extend the interim bail, granted on medical grounds, to Congress leader Rasheed Masood in a graft case relating to admission of undeserving students in MBBS course in 1990-91.
A bench of Justice V K Jain did not allow the plea of 66-year-old Masood that his interim bail, expiring today, be extended in view of his poor health conditions.
The court fixed Masood's appeal against the conviction and award of four years jail term for hearing on April 17.
Masood, a Rajya Sabha member, was the first MP to lose his seat after the Supreme Court had struck down a provision in the electoral law that protected a convicted lawmaker from disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal in higher courts.

The High Court had granted three months' interim bail on medical grounds to Masood and co-convict Gurdayal Singh, a former IPS officer.
Masood had said he is diabetic and having cardiac alimnets and has been taking 15-18 medicines in a day besides four insulin injections.

On September 19 last year, Masood was held guilty by a trial court for fraudulently nominating undeserving candidates from across the country to MBBS seats allotted to Tripura medical colleges from the Central pool.
Later, he was awarded four-year jail term and was lodged in Tihar jail before grant of interim bail by the high court.

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