In the first conviction after Supreme Court struck down a law that provided immunity to MPs and MlAs from immediate disqualification, a Special CBI court on Thursday held Rajya Sabha member Rasheed Masood guilty in a case of corruption and other offences. This has posed a threat to his Rajya Sabha seat.
Masood, Minister of Health in the VP Singh Government between 1990 and 1991, was held guilty of fraudulently nominating undeserving candidates to MBBS seats allotted to Tripura in medical colleges across the country from the central pool.
Special CBI Judge JPS Malik held Masood guilty of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating) and 468 (forgery). Masood’s conviction is the first case after the July 10 SC judgement that struck down Sub-Section 4 of Section 8 of Representation of the People Act, under which incumbent MPs and MlAs can avoid disqualification till pendency of the appeal against conviction in a higher court.
The quantum of punishment on Masood will be pronounced on October 1. The provisions under which Masood has been convicted attract imprisonment up to seven years.