Ed Interrogates Sukh Ram

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) yesterday interrogated former communication minister Sukh Ram for over three hours in connection with the entries in the diaries seized during raids at his residence in August last year.

The crux of the questions that were put before the former minister related to entries in the diaries which could involve a possible violation of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (Fera). Sources said that the questioning was not complete and that there was every likelihood of his being asked to appear again for interrogation.

EDs probe into the entire affair has begun after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has handed over photocopies of the documents and diaries seized during raids at the residences of Sukh Ram last year. A simultaneous investigations into the wealth and movable and immovable assets of the former minister has also been undertaken by the income tax authorities.

The CBI case relates to the corruption angle in the case - that relating to the massive sums in cash seized from his residences, the favours shown to the Hyderabad-based ARM Limited, and the assets acquired by Sukh Ram while he was a public servant. On their part, the I-T sleuths are carrying out a detailed scrutiny of his income and I-T returns for the last ten years.

ED is now the third enforcement agency of the government to have joined the probe against the former minister.