Cbi Officials Find Sukh Ram Tough Nut To Crack'

Former communication minister and main accused in the telecom case Sukh Ram has reportedly refused to acknowledge the various coded entries in the diaries seized from his residence saying it was only something personal.

CBI sources said that Sukh Ram, who was put under fresh interrogation yesterday, after the extension of his remand by the special judge, was not forthcoming and had adopted a un-cooperative attitude to the various queries and evidence put before him.

Sources said the officials interrogating him were finding him a tough nut to crack.

However, they did not want to subject him to intense and severe interrogation keeping in view his health.

 

CBI sources said the former minister was again asked about the entries of various initials in the diaries seized from his residence in Delhi.

The diaries also contain the names of some industrial houses and initials of some people considered close to Sukh Ram and reported to have been favoured by him during his tenure. The CBI has also set in motion the process of decoding the diaries and finding out if they contain details about any foreign bank accounts held by Sukh Ram or his family members. Sources said during the interrogation, Sukh Ram maintained that he did not remember anything about the telecom deals sanctioned during his tenure and officials should see the documents to find out the details.

He also denied having favoured any particular firm while allotting basic services licences or placing orders of store items. The former union minister had placed orders worth Rs 20,000 crore during his tenure for store items. Sources said Sukh Ram had also denied that the money seized from his New Delhi and Mandi residences belonged to him and maintained that it belonged to the party and had been kept by a particular individual to be used in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. However, he has refused to name the individual who gave him the money.

Sources said Sukh Ram was being interrogated at regular intervals keeping in view his medical condition and a doctor had been kept as stand-by for any kind of emergency. He had been allowed food from home as he was suffering from diabetes and other related problems but none of his family members were allowed to meet him.

Sukh Ram had been kept in a special cell of the CBI and had been given a mattress to sleep on. No special facilities were being provided to the accused. The interrogation was to continue all day yesterday, sources said.