Sukhram convicted in disproportionate asset case

Former Union Communications Minister Sukhram was convicted by a Delhi Court for amassing Rs 4.25 crore of disproportionate assets that included seizure of Rs 2.45 crore from his residence in New Delhi.

Special CBI Judge V K Maheshwari held the 82-year-old politician from Himachal Pradesh guilty under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The quantum of sentence against the former MP would be pronounced on February 24. The maximum sentence for the offences he is convicted for is seven years.

According to the CBI, Sukhram allegedly amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income to the tune of more than Rs 5 crore between 1991 and 1996.

The CBI registered the case against the minister on August 27, 1996 under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The agency had conducted a raid at his residences in New Delhi and in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, in 1996 and recovered Rs 36.2 million in loose change.

According to the probe agency, at the time of the raid, wads of notes tumbled out of every corner including the toilet tanks, trunks, pillow covers in Sukhram's house.

Thanks to Expressindia.com