ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Charges framed against Sukh Ram

Special Judge Ajit Bharihoke today framed charges against former communication minister Sukh Ram, former Department of Telecom official Runu Ghosh and the Hyderabad-based Advance Radio Mast Ltd managing director Paturu Rama Rao in the Rs 16.8 million telecom irregularity case.

The charges were framed under Section 120-b of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 13 (2), 13 (1) and (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The former communication minister had earlier filed an application that the proceedings against him be quashed in view of the recent Supreme Court decision holding members of Parliament and members of legislative assemblies as public servants in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MPs bribery case.

His application, moved through counsel Gopal Subramaniam, submitted that the Central Bureau of Investigation had not taken prior permission from the Speaker of the Lok Sabha before chargesheeting him.

Sukh Ram said he will challenge the order in the Delhi high court.

Sukh Ram's counsel P D Sharma will argue on May 23 in the other case against the former Union minister relating to possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The telecom irregularity case relates to the alleged loss of Rs 16.8 million to the DoT during Sukh Ram's tenure.

The CBI, which probing into the scam, alleged that the minister favoured ARM in the Rs 16.8 million equipment supply contract. It said Sukh Ram and Ghosh abused their powers as public servants so that pecuniary benefits could accrue to ARM via the contract.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report