The Congress action has raised questions as to why the CBI failed in taking prompt action against Sukh Ram even five days after the raids on his premises. Many argue that the investigating agency could have acted in either bringing back Sukh Ram into the country or in issuing a warrant against him.
The Congress action in suspending Sukh Ram before the investigating agency could get its act together is considered pre-emptive.
The entire episode has caused embarrassment not only to Rao but also to the government for its failure in tracing his whereabouts, especially in the light of the delicate relationship between the Congress and the ruling combine and Sukh Rams proximity to PV Narasimha Rao.
The prompt arrest of Runu Ghosh, the now suspended DGM (Finance) in the DoT, after the recovery of a comparatively smaller amount, Rs 65 lakh, from her residence has put the CBIs style of functioning in a cloud. While some officials charge CBI with adopting double standards in dealing with the former minister and an officer who was considered close to him, there are others who feel the CBI should have raided Sukh Rams residence in the presence of his family members.
Most of these politicians who feel the CBI should have sealed the house and waited for Sukh Ram to return belong to the Congress. Sources in the government maintain that the CBI could have easily traced Sukh Ram through its interpol wing, the National Central Bureau X. With a powerful wireless network in Asia, this organisation is linked with the Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France. Sources said Sukh Ram travels on a diplomatic passport and that would make the job of the CBI easier.
There is a general feeling in ruling circles that some drastic action to book Sukh Ram will have to be taken by the CBI before Parliament reassembles on August 26.
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This would help the government to somewhat save its face before an agitated opposition.
While political circles are debating about the possible fallout, the corporate world and bureaucracy are concerned over its likely impact on the licences issued to private operators for basic and cellular telecommunication operations.
The demand from the CPI(M) and CPI to review the entire process has sent shivers down the spines of successful bidders and has lit a ray of hope among those who did not win licences.
Stories of corporate rivalries being behind the recovery of cash are doing the rounds in bureaucratic and political circles. CBI sources, however, say that the issue had come before it in 1994 itself.
Inquiries against ministers are made only under the CBI directors wing. No other officer can investigate such cases. In this particular case, Vijay Rama Rao had ordered the registering of an FIR against Sukh Ram and Runu Gosh only days before he handed over charge to Joginder Singh.
Sources maintain that since a large number of currency notes recovered from Sukh Rams residence are in denominations of Rs 500 and mostly with the covering slips of different branches of one particular bank, the source of the money could be traced with little effort.
The money was drawn from the Ambala, Shimla and Ahmedabad branches of a particular bank. It is being argued that only rarely do banks issue cash to one customer in tens of lakhs.