Om Prakash Chautala#Scam

{{Short description|Former Chief Minister of Haryana (1935–2024)}}

{{Expand language|topic=|langcode=ml|otherarticle=ഓം പ്രകാശ് ചൗടാല|date=December 2024}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Om Prakash Chautala

| image = Om Prakash Chautala.jpg

| predecessor2 = Hukam Singh

| party = Indian National Lok Dal

| office1 = Chief Minister of Haryana

| order1 = 7th

| predecessor1 = Bansi Lal

| successor1 = Bhupinder Singh Hooda

| successor2 = President's rule

| term_start4 = 2 December 1989

| term_end4 = 22 May 1990

| predecessor4 = Chaudhary Devi Lal

| successor4 = Banarsi Das Gupta

| term_start3 = 12 July 1990

| term_end3 = 17 July 1990

| predecessor3 = Banarsi Das Gupta

| successor3 = Hukam Singh

| term_start2 = 22 March 1991

| term_end2 = 6 April 1991

| term_start1 = 24 July 1999

| term_end1 = 5 March 2005

| office5 = Leader of Opposition,
Haryana Legislative Assembly

| term_start5 = 27 February 2005

| term_end5 = 27 October 2014

| predecessor5 = Vacant

| successor5 = Abhay Singh Chautala

| term_start6 =

| term_end6 =

| predecessor6 =

| successor6 =

| office7 = President of the
Indian National Lok Dal

| term_start7 = 6 April 2001

| termend7 = 20 December 2024

| predecessor7 = Devi Lal

| birth_date = {{birth date|1935|1|1|df=y}}

| birth_place = Chautala, Punjab, British India

| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|12|20|1935|1|1|df=y}}

| death_place = Gurgaon, Haryana, India

| nationality = Indian

| spouse = {{marriage|Sneh Lata Chautala||2019|end=died}}

| father = Devi Lal

| children = 5, including Ajay Singh Chautala and Abhay Singh Chautala

| residence = Sirsa district, Haryana

| occupation = Agriculturalist

| profession = Politician

| birth_name = Om Prakash Sihag{{cite web |last=Manav |first=Sushil |date=20 December 2024 |title=OP Chautala: Jat mass leader with rural connect, last of Haryana's veterans, five-time CM & more |url=https://theprint.in/politics/op-chautala-jat-mass-leader-with-rural-connect-last-of-haryanas-veterans-five-time-cm-more/2412165/ |work=ThePrint |access-date=11 February 2025}}

}}

Om Prakash Chautala (1 January 1935 – 20 December 2024) was an Indian politician who served as the Chief Minister of Haryana from 1999 to 2005 .{{Cite news |last=Gupta |first=Vivek |date=20 December 2024 |title=Om Prakash Chautala: A Mass Jat Leader With a Share of Corruption Scandals |url=https://thewire.in/politics/om-prakash-chautala-obituary-chief-minister-haryana |work=The Wire |access-date=12 February 2025}} A member of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), he became the chief minister of Haryana for five terms. He served as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Haryana Legislative Assembly from 2005 to 2014. He holds the record for being the oldest prisoner of the Tihar Jail, at the age of 89. He was son of Devi Lal, former deputy prime minister of India.{{cite news |last1=Rao |first1=Hitender |date=21 December 2024 |title=OP Chautala: Jat strongman and five-time Haryana chief minister |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/op-chautala-jat-strongman-and-five-time-haryana-chief-minister-101734720516539.html |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=21 December 2024}}

Early life and personal life

Om Prakash Chautala, who belonged to the Sihag clan of Jat community, was born on 1 January 1935{{cite book |title=South Asia |date=2006 |publisher=Europa Publications |isbn=978-1-85743-318-0 |page=542 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YG8bAQAAMAAJ&q=om+prakash+chautala+1+January+1935 |language=en}} to Devi Lal,{{cite book |title=Devi Lal, the man of the masses |last=Singh |first=Raj Pal |year=1988 |publisher=Veenu Printers and Publications |page=3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7tJHAAAAMAAJ&q=Lekh+Ram+sihag}}{{cite news|title=The Jat patriarch |url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1809/18091200.htm |access-date=13 June 2014|date=11 May 2001|volume=18 |issue=9}} the former Deputy Prime Minister of India.{{cite book|author=Raj Pal Singh|title=Devi Lal, the man of the masses|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7tJHAAAAMAAJ|access-date=14 July 2011|year=1988|publisher=Veenu Printers & Publishers|page=3}}{{cite book|title=History of Sirsa Town|year = 1991|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G0Z457ZOR44C&pg=PA241|access-date=14 July 2011|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distri|pages=241–}}

He was married to Sneh Lata, who died in August 2019.{{cite news |title=Former Haryana Chief Minister OP Chautala's Wife Dies At 81 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/former-haryana-chief-minister-op-chautalas-wife-dies-at-81-2083696 |access-date=26 September 2019 |work=NDTV.com |date=11 August 2019}} Chautala had two sons and three daughters, including Abhay Singh Chautala and Ajay Singh Chautala.{{Cite web |date=20 December 2024 |title=Ex-Haryana Chief Minister, INLD boss Om Prakash Chautala passes away at 89 |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/ex-haryana-chief-minister-inld-boss-om-prakash-chautala-passes-away-at-89-458025-2024-12-20 |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=Business Today |language=en}} Abhay is a Member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly from the Ellenabad constituency{{Cite web |date=2 November 2021 |title=Haryana bypolls: INLD's Abhay Chautala wins Ellenabad Assembly seat, BJP gives close fight |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/haryana-bypolls-inld-abhay-chautala-wins-ellenabad-assembly-seat-1872648-2021-11-02 |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=India Today |language=en}} and has also been the Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Legislative Assembly from October 2014 till March 2019. Chautala's grandson, Dushyant Chautala, has served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana.{{cite news |title=Former Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala passes away in Gurugram |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/former-haryana-cm-om-prakash-chautala-passes-away-in-gurugram-101734678003812.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=20 December 2024 |access-date=21 December 2024}} He is also a former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from the Hisar constituency.{{Cite web |last=Thapa |first=Vaidika |title=Chautala Family Tree: From Tau Devi Lal To Dushyant - Who Are The Key Members? News24 - |url=https://news24online.com/india/chautala-family-tree-from-tau-devi-lal-to-dushyant-who-are-the-key-members/414249/ |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=News24 |language=en}}

Political career

Chautala served as the Chief Minister of Haryana from 2 December 1989 to 22 May 1990, from 12 July 1990 to 17 July 1990, again from 22 March 1991 to 6 April 1991 and, finally, from 24 July 1999 to 5 March 2005.[http://legislativebodiesinindia.nic.in/STATISTICAL/Haryana.htm HARYANA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513091707/http://legislativebodiesinindia.nic.in/STATISTICAL/Haryana.htm |date=13 May 2017 }} Haryana Legislative Assembly. Politically, he had been part of NDA and Third Front (non-NDA & non-UPA front) at national level.{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=Chautala compares Devi Lal with Buddha; slams Cong, BJP |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Chautala-compares-Devi-Lal-with-Buddha-slams-Cong-BJP/articleshow/44418264.cms |access-date=29 October 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=5 October 2014 |language=en}}

Chautala was released from the Tihar Jail on 2 July 2021 after serving nine and a half years of a 10-year prison sentence.{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=O P Chautala released from Tihar Jail |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/o-p-chautala-released-tihar-jail-7385748/ |access-date=5 April 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=2 July 2021 |language=en}} His early release was due to a decision of the Delhi government to reduce prison populations to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news |last=Sumeda |date=27 May 2022 |title=The 16-year-old assets case in which former Haryana CM OP Chautala has been convicted |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/chautala-om-prakash-haryana-convict-sentence-jail-prison-cbi-explained/article65459171.ece |access-date=8 October 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}

Chautala completed his matriculation and intermediate education in 2021 at the age of 87.{{cite news |title=Ex-Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala, 87, clears Class 10 & 12 exams |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/ex-haryana-cm-om-prakash-chautala-87-clears-class-10-12-exams/articleshow/91481046.cms |work=The Times of India |agency=IANS |date=11 May 2022 |access-date=21 December 2024}}

Controversies

= Recruitment scam =

{{anchor | Scam }}In June 2008 OP Chautala and 53 others were charged in connection with the appointment of 3,206 junior basic teachers in the state of Haryana during 1999–2000. In January 2013 a New Delhi court sentenced Chautala and his son Ajay Singh Chautala to ten years' imprisonment under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act.{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/former-haryana-cm-chautala-his-son-53-others-convicted-in-teachers-recruitment-scam/316028-37-64.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119053056/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/former-haryana-cm-chautala-his-son-53-others-convicted-in-teachers-recruitment-scam/316028-37-64.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 January 2013|access-date=16 January 2013|newspaper=CNN-IBN|title=Former Haryana CM Chautala, his son, 53 others convicted in teachers' recruitment scam|date=16 January 2013}} Chautala was found guilty of illegally recruiting over 3,000 unqualified teachers.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/10year-jail-for-chautala-son-in-recruitment-scam/article4331656.ece |title=Chautala, son jailed for 10 years|work=The Hindu |date=23 January 2013 |access-date=23 January 2013 |location=Chennai, India |first=Jiby |last=Kattakayam}} A CBI investigation was ordered by the Supreme Court based on a writ filed by the former director of primary education Sanjeev Kumar, a 1989 batch IAS officer.{{cite news |title=Why Chautala is in jail: All you need to know about JBT scam |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/why-chautala-is-in-jail-all-you-need-to-know-about-jbt-scam-590338.html |access-date=5 April 2022 |work=Firstpost |date=22 January 2013 |language=en}}{{cite news|last=TNN|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Recruitment-scam-Ex-Haryana-CM-Om-Prakash-Chautala-convicted-arrested/articleshow/18043964.cms|access-date=16 January 2013|newspaper=Times of India|date=16 January 2013|title=Recruitment scam: Ex-Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala convicted, arrested}}{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/om-prakash-chautala-rise-fall-rise-and-downfall/1062743/|title=Om Prakash Chautala: Rise, fall, rise and downfall|newspaper=Indian Express}}

His sentence was upheld by the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court.{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/jbt-scam-supreme-court-upholds-jail-term-of-om-prakash-chautala-his-son|title=Teachers' recruitment scam: Supreme Court upholds jail term of Om Prakash Chautala, son Ajay|date=4 August 2015|newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=23 July 2019}}

= Disproportionate assets case =

Chautala was given a four-year jail term on 27 May 2022 in a 16-year-old disproportionate assets case by the Delhi CBI Court,{{cite news |last1=Parashar |first1=Sachin |title=chautala: After 9 yrs behind bars, Chautala back in jail for 4 years in DA case |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/after-9-yrs-behind-bars-chautala-back-in-jail-for-4-yrs-in-da-case/articleshow/91844914.cms |access-date=28 May 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=28 May 2022}} making him, aged 87 at the time, the oldest prisoner of the Tihar Jail.{{cite news |last1=Lama |first1=Prawesh |title=At 87, Om Prakash Chautala is now Tihar's oldest prisoner |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/at-87-om-prakash-chautala-is-now-tihar-s-oldest-prisoner-101653694559169.html |access-date=28 May 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=28 May 2022}} Along with the jail time, the court also imposed a fine of {{INR|50 lakh}}.{{cite tweet |user=ANI |number=1530108139680346112 |date=27 May 2022 |title=Disproportionate assets case: Special CBI Court in Delhi sentences former Haryana CM OP Chautala to four years imprisonment, imposes a fine of Rs 50 lakhs The Court also ordered to confiscate his four properties |access-date=28 May 2022}}

Death

Chautala died from cardiac arrest at his Gurgaon residence, on 20 December 2024, at the age of 89.{{cite magazine |last1=Sandhu |first1=Kamaljit Kaur |date=20 December 2024 |title=Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala dies at 89 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/former-haryana-chief-minister-and-inld-leader-om-prakash-chautala-89-dies-at-gurugram-home-2652779-2024-12-20 |magazine=India Today |access-date=21 December 2024}} His last rites were performed on 21 December in Teja Khera village.{{cite news |title=Former Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala's body kept at family's Teja Khera farmhouse, last rites by afternoon |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/op-chautala-last-rites-in-haryana-on-december-21-2024/article69012010.ece |work=The Hindu |agency=PTI |date=21 December 2024 |access-date=21 December 2024}}