The Delhi High Court today suspended the five year sentence against former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram in a graft case and granted him bail.

The court had directed him to furnish two sureties of 10 lakh rupees and asked him not to leave the country without the prior permission of the court.

A bench of justice Suresh Kait suspended the sentence keeping in view his old age and the medical report submitted by the Tihar Jail authorities. The CBI had opposed his bail, saying he has been convicted twice earlier.

Sukh Ram, who had held the Telecom portfolio in P V Narasimha Rao's cabinet, was convicted for misusing his official position during his tenure as Telecom Minister in awarding a contract worth Rs 30 crore to a private firm after taking 3 lakh rupees as bribe.