JOIN USChautala in hospital now, court seeks health status
Jailed former Haryana chief minister O P Chautala was admitted to RML Hospital here on Monday, due to which he could not appear for trial in a disproportionate assets case before a Delhi court.
The court then pulled up Tihar Prisons Authority for not informing it about the development. It also issued a notice to the jail superintendent, seeking a report on the health status of 78-year-old Chautala.
Chautala has been lodged in Tihar Jail after being sentenced to 10 years in the 2000 JBT scam, and was to be produced before special CBI judge Manu Rai Sethi, who is conducting the trial against the INLD chief and his sons Ajay and Abhay Chautala.
Even as the case came up for hearing at noon, the jail authorities had not informed the court about his hospitalisation for a digestive disorder and consequent inability to appear before it. “As per his counsel, Chautala was admitted in hospital in morning.
Superintendent of Tihar Jail no. 2, where Chautala is lodged ought to have sent a written communication in this regard to the court on time. He already knew that the matter was to be taken up after lunch. This lax attitude of the superintendent is viewed with concern by this court. Let notice be issued to him with direction to inform the court of latest health status of the accused,” the court said.
A fresh production warrant has been issued to Chautala for April 12. On March 25, the court had rejected his plea to get a pacemaker implanted in a private hospital.