NEW DELI: India’s Congress party reeling from, defeat in general elections said on Tuesday that the arrest of a former cabinet minister in a telecommunications corruption case had dealt afresh blow to the party. Former communications minister Sukh Ram, in a wheelchair, was arrested by federal police at New Delhi’s international airport late Monday Sep 16, minutes after his arrived in the Indian capital on a flight from London, authorities said on Tues day. The arrest came one month after Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) agents found more that $1.0 million in cash stuffed into Suitcases and bags in two of Sukh Ram’s homes. The CBI later accused the former minister of pocketing kickbacks from a private firm which sold the government radio equipment, causing the loss of some 16.8 million rupees ($470,00) to the federal exchequer.

Sukh Ram, who said he travelled out of the country seeking treatment for a heart problem, said on Monday that the money belonged to the Congress party, which finished a humiliating second in general polls that ended in May. Congress, which suspended Sukh ram after the CBI mounted the raids, denied any connection to the money. “It is not Congress money,” party spokesman Vithal Gadgil told Reuters. But congress acknowledged that the former cabinet minister had dealt a setback to the party by trying to implicate the party in the case. “He has done damage to the party,” Gadgil said. The new leader of Congress’ powerful plenary body, R. K. Dhawan, was quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying Sukh Ram’s allegations have had an adverse effect on the party. Sukh Ram, served in the cabinet of former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, who was forced to resign in May after Congress was humiliated in the polls, d spearheaded an ambitious “drive to end the government’s monopoly over telephone services. The raids on Sukh Ram’s homes marked the latest in a series of scandal that have hit Congress and its leader, Rao. ressureon Rao to step down as Congress leader has mounted since the party had its worst showing in general polls since 1947. Rao has not been implicated in the telecommunications case, but has been linked to two separate corruption scandals now under investigation. He has denied any involvement. The Congress spokesman said the party’s disciplinary committee would soon consider expelling Sukh Ram. ;

A Delhi judge on Tuesday ordered Sukh Ram to remain in CBI custody until September 23, when a court is expected to take up a bail application. Sukh Ram, no longer in a wheelchair, did not speak during his half hour court appearance. He was then taken back to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for tests to determine whether he should remain under hospital supervision while in custody or can be sent to a CBI lockup, CBI spokesman S.M. Khan said. Sukh Ram had filed for anticipatory bail in the even of arrest and might change the request into a regular bail application, the CBI spokesman said. Ambulances from two hospitals were waiting at the airport when Sukh Ram emerged from the Air India aircraft in a wheelchair, witnesses said. He was then taken to AIIMS. “I am innocent,” The Indian Express newspaper quoted Sukh Ram as saying when he arrived at the state hospital.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 25, 1996

 

Article extracted from this publication >>