Sukh Ram convicted for crores
February 21, 2009: The Hindu
NEW DELHI: Former Union Communications Minister Sukh Ram was convicted by a designated court here on Friday for being in possession of assets grossly disproportionate to his known sources of income. The quantum of punishment is likely to be pronounced this coming Tuesday.
Special Central Bureau of Investigation Judge V. K. Maheshwari held the octogenarian politician from Himachal Pradesh guilty under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act in a case registered by the CBI 13 years ago. The verdict was pronounced in the absence of the former Minister as he had to appear in another case in another court, for which the CBI court had exempted him from personal appearance.
The CBI had seized Rs.2.45 crore in cash from Sukh Ram’s 12 Safdarjung Lane residence here in the Capital and Rs.1.16 crore in cash from his house at Mandi in Himachal Pradesh way back in 1996.
During subsequent searches the investigating agency also came across documents revealing several movable and immovable properties in the name of the Minister.
Based on the findings, the CBI registered a case of disproportionate assets against Sukh Ram on August 27, 1996. He was arrested the following month and remained in custody till he obtained bail from the Delhi High Court on October 14, 1996.
The CBI completed investigations in the case that caused a huge sensation at the time and filed a charge-sheet within ten months. In all, 63 prosecution witnesses including former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao and 16 defence witnesses were examined during the trial.
The agency submitted in the court that Sukh Ram had amassed disproportionate assets worth about Rs.5.36 crore during 1991 and 1996 by abusing his position as a public servant.
He was then the Union Minister of State for Communications.
However, the court pegged his disproportionate assets at Rs.4.25 crore.
