His conviction in September last by a CBI special court, was the first after the Highest Court struck down a provision in the electoral law that provided immunity to MPs and MLAs from immediate disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal in higher court.
TIMELINE
Masood, 66, was Health Minister in the VP Singh government between 1990 and 1991.He has been held guilty of fraudulently nominating undeserving candidates to MBBS seats allotted to Tripura in medical colleges across the country from the central pool.
Front SHELF
He can’t contest polls for six years from the date of completion of his prison term.- Report On September 19, 2013, 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).
And what expected in this context?
Lok Sabha MPs Lalu Prasad and Jagdish Sharma, both convicted in the fodder scam, are set to be formally disqualified as the Lok Sabha secretariat is likely to follow suit.
BOTTOMLINE
So - what will be impact on the convicted leader Masood?He can’t contest polls for six years from the date of completion of his prison term.
Writes J Balaji in The Hindu:
In case of remission of sentence, he may come out earlier, and the six-year ban will apply thereafter. There will be no relief for him even if the appeal court grants him bail or stays the sentence.
