CBI court convicts Sukhram to 5 years jail

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The CBI special court today convicted former telecom minister Sukhram to five years jail for misusing his ministerial position. He was also fined Rs 4 lakh.

The court observed that Sukhram misused his position in awarding Rs 30 lakh contract to Haryana Telecom Limited (HTL), a private firm for cable procurement at inflated rates.

Special CBI Judge RP Pandey held him guilty under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

Sukhram allegedly favored HTL with a contract worth Rs 30 crore to supply 3.5 lakh conductor kilometers (LCKM) of Polythene Insulated Jelly Filled (PIJF) cables to the telecom department.

HTL chairman Devinder Singh Choudhary, who died during the trial, was a co-accused.

Justice Pandey observed, “Sukhram also obtained gratification other than legal remunerations from Choudhary as a motive or reward for showing the favour to the said firm (HTL)." Referring the argument as devoid of merit, the judge said that Rs 3 lakh recovered from him was the bribe money.

Earlier today, Sukhram’s counsel urged the court to consider leniency due to his old age. The CBI’s counsel argued that Sukhram was a habitual offender.

However, sources say that Sukhram will challenge the court verdict in Delhi High Court on Monday. Sukhram was held guilty under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the section 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The CBI had filed a chargesheet in 1998. The court had ordered him to serve 3,4 and 5 years term concurrently.

Earlier, Sukhram was convicted twice. In 1996, the CBI raided his residential premises and recovered more than Rs 1 crore. In February 2009, he was also convicted for possessing disproportionate assets.