NEW DELHI: In a major ‘Swoop against corruption in high places, the Central Bureau ‘of Investigation (CBI) raided the houses of former Communications Minister Sukh Ram and Congress MP from Himachal Pradesh here and Mandi and recovered Rs 3 crores in cash. This is the biggest ever seizure in cash in the history of any investigation agency from the residential premises of a politician. The CBI ‘sleuths also raided the house of Renu Ghose, Director (Finance), in the Department of Telecommunications and recovered Rs 132 lakh in foreign currency, one kg of gold and other incriminating documents. The CBI also raided the premises of M/s Advance Radio Masts Limited, in Hyderabad which supplied equipment to the department in 199394 at highly inflated prices causing a loss to the exchequer a loss of Rs 1.68 crores.

The search operations began in the early hours of the day simultaneously in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Hyderabad. Sukh Ram was abroad for medical checkup when sleuths knocked at the 12, Safdar jung Road residence of the controversial former Union Minister. Cash concealed in trunks in high denomination notes to the tune of Rs 2.50 crores was recovered. Sukh Ram’s daughter who was at home could not explain anything about the money. The CBI raids at the official residence of Sukh Ram in Mandi revealed another Rs 50 lakhs. Renu Ghose was totally shaken when CBI sleuths knocked Ather door that morning. She was instrumental in signing this deal when Sukh Ram overruled the recommendation of the committee and gave the contract for the purchase of 200 sets of MARR Shared Radio System for rural areas. The search is continuing till the time of going to the press. A son of Sukh Ram is a minister in the Virbhadra Singh’s government in Himachal Pradesh while another son is abroad doing his own business. Sources in the CBI say that money recovered from the residential premises of Sukh Ram may not be linked to the contract given in 199394. “But he is duty bound to explain the sources of this huge cash amount under the law. This may be linked to his benami partnership in a private telecommunication company or controversial tenders for the basic telephones” said a senior official on the condition of anonymity.

The CBI Director, Joginder Singh, when he talked to the press last week, had perhaps overcome the humiliation he had received from the Supreme Court in the afternoon. He said that the case against Sukh Ram and others was registered on August 8 and investigations were going on since then. Joginder Singh said the places were searched in close coordination with the Income tax and Enforcement Departments. Asked if Sukh Ram will be arrested by the investigating agency on his return from abroad, Singh said, the law will take its own course. He will be interrogated if necessary but let him come back first.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 21, 1996