New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS): The Delhi High Court Friday dismissed the plea by disqualified Rajya Sabha member Rashid Masood for bail on medical grounds.

Masood is serving a four-year jail term in a case of corruption and other offences.

Justice Sunita Gupta dismissed the plea saying the allegations against him are "very serious" in nature.

"...the allegations against the appellant (Masood) are very serious in nature inasmuch as the genuine candidates were deprived of the medical seats because of the appellant in conspiracy with the co-accused," said the court.

The court said that as regards medical grounds, a perusal of the report submitted by the medical officer of the Central Jail said that Masood was given all the prescribed medication and regular treatment was being provided to him.

It also held that a medical board had been constituted at AIIMS and from time to time, he was being examined by the board and the case had been reviewed time and again.

"Moreover, it will be open to the jail superintendent to provide the medical facilities as required and in case of need, Masood will be at liberty to move appropriate application on medical ground, but keeping in view the grave and serious allegations, the sentence is not liable to be suspended till the disposal of the appeal prayed for," the court said.

Masood, 68, had challenged the trial court's verdict convicting him and sentencing him to a four-year jail term. He sought suspension of sentence till the outcome of his appeal.

Last year, Masood was held guilty of fraudulently nominating undeserving candidates from across the country to the MBBS seats allotted to Tripura medical colleges from the central pool.

He became the first member of parliament to lose his seat after the Supreme Court struck down a provision that protects a convicted lawmaker from disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal in higher courts.

Masood was health minister in the 11-month V.P. Singh government between 1990 and 1991.