New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today rejected the interim bail plea of former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala who, along with his son Ajay Chautala and others, was convicted in the teachers' recruitment scam in the state.
Brushing aside his plea that he be allowed to remain out of jail on account of his ailments, a Supreme Court bench said most of the ailments were related to old age.
Court said, "A thought crosses our mind ... if the petitioner gets a chance to come back to power, will he refuse it citing the ailments being pointed before us."
However, in a minor relief to Mr Chautala the Supreme Court permitted him to surrender before the jail authorities by September 23, instead of the September 17 deadline, and directed prison officials to provide "proper, effective, efficient and expert medical treatment", if so required by him.
Delhi High Court had earlier rejected Mr Chautala's plea for extension of his interim bail on medical grounds on September 6. He then moved the Supreme Court for interim bail.
Mr Chautala, was convicted in the teachers' recruitment scam in January by a court in Delhi. He was the chief minister of Haryana when 3,206 teachers were illegally recruited in 2000.