Delhi High Court seeks CBI reply on plea filed by ex-CM Om Prakash Chautala’s heirs in disproportionate assets case, contesting his conviction after his death.
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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) response on a plea filed by the legal heirs of the late former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, who passed away on December 20, 2024, in Gurugram. His family has requested to be made parties in the pending appeal against his conviction in a disproportionate assets case.
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Justice Ravinder Dudeja issued notice to the CBI and fixed September 15 as the next date of hearing. The heirs contend that since Chautala himself had filed the appeal while alive, they are entitled to pursue it further in order to clear his name.
Background of the Case
On May 27, 2022, a trial court convicted Chautala in a disproportionate assets case and sentenced him to four years’ imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 50 lakh. The conviction related to allegations of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income during the period 1993–2006, including while serving as Chief Minister of Haryana (1999–2005).
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Later, on August 3, 2022, the Delhi High Court suspended his sentence, granting him bail on the condition that he deposit the imposed fine, furnish a personal bond, and provide surety.
The CBI’s Case
The CBI had filed its chargesheet on March 26, 2010, following its FIR alleging that Chautala, “in collusion with family members and others,” had accumulated both immovable and movable assets beyond his legitimate income sources.
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