Former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, his MLA son Ajay Chautala and 53 others were convicted by a Delhi court in connection with the illegal recruitment of over 3,000 junior basic trained (JBT) teachers in the state. They were taken into judicial custody and sent to Tihar jail.
The court will pronounce the quantum of sentence on January 22. part from the Chautalas, Sanjiv Kumar, then director of primary education, Chautala’s former officer on special duty Vidya Dhar and Sher Singh Badshami, then CM’s political advisor, were also convicted by the court in the case. The court has fixed January 17, 19 and 21 for hearing the arguments on their sentencing.
Of the initial 62 accused, six died during the trial while one had been discharged by the court at the time of framing of charges. Sixteen women were among the 55 convicted by the court on Wednesday.
Special CBI judge Vinod Kumar held Chautala, his son and others guilty of offences under the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act. The court had earlier found prima facie evidence against Chautala, Ajay and 53 others, including IAS officers Dhar and Kumar, who was made accused by the CBI after he exposed the JBT recruitment scam.
The Supreme Court in its order on November 25, 2003, directed the CBI to take up the investigation into the case. The investigating agency, in its charge sheet, said the father-son duo used forged documents to appoint 3,206 teachers in the state during 1999-2000.
Except the accused, their counsel, prosecutors and the court staff, the judge did not allow anyone else to enter the courtroom.
