Former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram convicted for scam during PV Narasimha Rao regime

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Friday held former telecom minister Sukh Ram guilty of misusing his official position when he was a member of the PV Narasimha Rao Cabinet and giving undue favour to a cable supply company.

Special CBI Judge RP Pandey convicted 84-year-old Sukh Ram under various provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code in the 15-year old case. The court is likely to pronounce the quantum of sentence on Saturday.

"Accused Sukh Ram has been held guilty of the offences punishable under various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC and convicted accordingly," the judge said.

He has been convicted for the offences which entail a maximum punishment of seven years' imprisonment. The CBI, in its chargesheet filed in 1998, had accused Sukh Ram and another person of allegedly showing undue favour in supply of excess quantity of cable and acceptance of Rs 3 lakh.

Two cases were filed against Sukh Ram after suitcases stuffed with cash were seized from his government residence in New Delhi and private home in Mandi in August 1996. In 2009, he was held guily of possessing disproportionate assets worth Rs 4.25 crore.

In 2002, he was awarded a three-year jail term under the Prevention of Corruption Act in an equipment supply case for causing a loss of Rs 1.66 crore to the state exchequer.

He had allegedly caused undue benefits to Rama Rao,MD of Hyderabad-based Advance Radio Masts. He appealed against this order. And nine years have passed, but a ruling is yet to be pronounced.