Om Prakash Chautala Dies: From smuggling to JBT scam – know about the controversies related to them

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Om Prakash Chautala's political journey has also been surrounded by controversies. In 2013 he was convicted in the JBT teacher recruitment scam and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Although the conviction damaged his reputation, it did not weaken his hold on Haryana politics, as INLD remained a strong force under his leadership. OP Chautala has been the Chief Minister of Haryana five times, with tenures ranging from five days to full five years, including a five-month stint during his initial tenure. Apart from this, he has been elected MLA seven times. His sons Ajay and Abhay Chautala have also been embroiled in controversies.

What is JBT Teacher Recruitment Scam?

In January 2013, a special CBI court sentenced former Haryana Chief Minister and INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala, his son Ajay Singh Chautala and three other officials, including the informant in the case, to 10 years imprisonment for the illegal appointment of over 3,000 teachers during 1999–2000. Was sentenced to jail. Evidence confirmed that Junior Basic Trained (JBT) teachers were recruited using forged documents. It was alleged that appointments were made on the basis of bribery, nepotism and favoritism rather than merit.

disproportionate assets case

Chautala faced several charges in the disproportionate assets case, resulting in his conviction by a CBI court in May 2022. He was sentenced to four years in jail and fined ₹50 lakh. On April 3, 2006, a case was registered against Om Prakash Chautala and others, accusing him of accumulating assets, both movable and immovable, that were disproportionate to his known sources of income. The charges stated that while serving as the Chief Minister of Haryana from July 24, 1999 to March 5, 2005, he, in connivance with his family members and others, in his own name as well as in the name of his relatives and associates Conspired to accumulate these properties.

After investigation, a charge sheet was filed against Om Prakash Chautala on March 26, 2010. The case revealed that his disproportionate assets were approximately Rs 6,09,79,026, which was 189.11% of his total income from 1993 to 2006. The prosecution presented around 257 witnesses in the case. Chautala's sons Abhay Singh and Ajay Singh Chautala are also involved in this case, but separate cases are pending against them.

Even before entering active politics, Chautala had to face controversies when his father and former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal broke ties with him in 1977. That time he was allegedly caught trying to smuggle wrist watches worth ₹1,00,000 at the Delhi airport.

Chautala, as Chief Minister in 1990, was accused in the Ruchika Girotra molestation case by senior police officer S.P.S. Rathore was charged with saving him. Ruchika's father later made this claim after the girl's suicide.

In the same year, there was discussion at the national level due to widespread violence in Meham assembly seat of Haryana. Chautala was accused of allegedly rigging the elections in his favor. Elections for this seat were postponed three times.

Chautala's sons Ajay and Abhay Chautala have also been embroiled in controversies.

Abhay Chautala recently came into limelight after being controversially elected as the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Indian Boxing Federation (IBF). His election resulted in India being suspended from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with Indian boxers being temporarily banned from participating in international competitions.

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