CBI files third chargesheet against Sukh Ram

When the CBI raided Sukh Ram’s house in Mandi, Haryana on August 16, 1996 they seized cash amounting to Rs 1,16,51,520. Of this, Rs 3 lakhs was in an envelope along with a visiting card in Choudhary’s name as president of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, New Delhi. Investigations revealed that Choudhary regularly visited the minister at home, and also that Sukh Ram’s income tax returns had no mention of the Rs 3 lakhs.

According to the chargesheet: “This prima facie indicates that Sukh Ram obtained the said amount … as a motive or reward for … favour shown by him to the said firm.”

Sukh Ram joinedthe Council of Ministers on July 2, 1992 and functioned as Minister of State for Communication with independent charge from January 18, 1993 to May 16, 1996. The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) floated tenders on November 30, 1994 for the procurement of 352 Lakh Conductor Kilometer (LCKM) of polythene insulated jelly filled (PIJF) cables, for which 24 companies submitted bids.

In a note dated July 16, 1993 Sukh Ram directed the Telecom Commission chairman that every case of finalisation of tenders and issue of purchase order be put before him.

According to the chargesheet, via a note dated November 3, 1995, Sukh Ram “while approving the said allocation … dishonestly with a view to give wrongful gain to HTL enhanced the allocation quantity of 120.19 LCKM by about 10% … without going into the financial aspect of the purchase. Out of the increased quantity of 12 LCKM he made allocation of 3.5 LCKM to HTL.” The cost of 3.5 LCKM was approximately Rs 33 crores.

The CBI has alleged that thisenhancement was done without the recommendation of the department and “its distribution was totally arbitrary without justification of the quantity allotted to the firms picked by Sukh Ram.”

According to the investigating agency, Sukh Ram “deliberately ignored the proposal of the department that the supply position of HTL was precarious.”The alleged offence is punishable under Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code read with Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and under Section 7 and 12 of the PC Act.

The Himachal Vikas Congress president is facing trial in another telecom scam case as well as in a disproportionate assets case.