A Delhi court sentenced former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitley and two others to four years imprisonment in a corruption case in the 2000–01 alleged defense deal.
The matter caught fire after the sting ‘Operation West End’ by news portal ‘Tehelka’. However, the Delhi High Court on Thursday stayed the four-year imprisonment awarded to former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitley in a corruption case related to the alleged defense deal.
The court, in an in-camera proceeding, also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each on all three convicts and had directed them to surrender before it by 5 pm on yesterday.
In the sting operation, Ms. Jaitly was shown to have accepted ₹2 lakh from Mathew Samuel, who represented a non-existing firm named Westend International. The retired Major General received ₹20,000.
Justice Suresh Kumar Kait also sought the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) response on Jaitly’s appeal challenging her conviction and sentence, advocate Abhijat said.
Special CBI judge Virender Bhat said the convicts had acted for “petty gains” and sought to assist an unknown, fictitious firm while awarding punishment on Thursday.
Jaya’s lawyer said the Delhi High Court stayed the sentence. Jaitley’s side in the court was represented by senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and PP Malhotra. He challenged the lower court’s July 21 order ordering Jaya Jaitley and his two aides to surrender by 5 pm on Thursday.
