Jailed former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram approached the Delhi High Court on Wednesday challenging his conviction and five years rigorous imprisonment awarded by a trial court in Delhi for misusing his official position when he was in the PV Narismha Rao cabinet. This was his third conviction on graft charges.
A lawyer stated that the former minister approached the court seeking relief on the ground that he was suffering from health problems and added that the trial court's order should be set aside.
Eighty-six year old Sukh Ram, who held the telecom party in the PV Narasimha Rao led Congress Government, was convicted on November 19 for taking Rs. 3 lakh as bribe to award a cable contract to a telecom firm in the year 1996.
The Central Bureau of Investigation Special Judge RP Pandey handed down a five year jail term and sent him to jail. The court also imposed Rs. 4 lakh fine on him.
A lawyer was quoted saying that a petition on behalf of Sukh Ram against his conviction and sentencing was filed in the High Court's Registry.
Sukh Ram was earlier convicted in two separate corruption cases filed in the years 2002 and 2009 but remained out of jail.
The trial court order delivered on Nov 19 said that the convict has already reaped a dividend of long-drawn process of law and despite have been convicted in two other corruption cases, he is enjoying freedom, which is passing a wrong message to the public at large and strengthens the popular belief that one can earn money by corrupt means and enjoys its fruits by spending some portion of it.
News reported by AR for Newsvision
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