HC issues notice to CBI on former Congress MP Masood's plea

The Delhi high court on Wednesday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on an appeal filed by former Congress MP Rasheed Masood seeking suspension of his four years jail term in a corruption case.

Justice JR Midha told the CBI to verify Masood's medical status and submit a report by December 10. Masood had sought interim suspension of the trial court's sentence on medical grounds.

The 66-years-old was held guilty by a trial court for fraudulently nominating undeserving candidates from across the country to the MBBS seats allotted to Tripura medical colleges from the central pool in last September.

Masood is also the first member of Parliament to loose his seat after the apex court struck down a provision that protected a convicted lawmaker from disqualification on the grounds of pendency of appeal in higher courts.

Masood was the minister of health in the 11-month VP Singh government between 1990 and 1991.

The court also granted two months interim bail to former IAS officer AK Roy, an accomplice of Masood in the MBBS seat scam and serving four-year jail term, for two months on medical grounds.

Roy is currently admitted in DDU hospital in New Delhi.