New Delhi, Jan 9 (IANS) The Supreme Court Monday granted interim bail till Jan 16 to former telecom minister Sukh Ram, 84, who was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in a 1993 telecom scam case.

Besides Sukh Ram, the apex court bench headed by Justice P. Sathasivam granted interim bail to Runu Ghosh, former director in the department of telecom, and Hyderabad-based businessman P. Ramarao till Jan 16 when the court will take up for hearing their plea for regular bail.

Sukh Ram is accused of showing undue favour to a cable supply company and accepting Rs.300,000 as bribe when he was a minister.

In 2002, he was awarded a three-year jail term under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The 1993 telecom scam for which Sukh Ram has been convicted involves grant of a contract to a Hyderabad firm for supplying telecom equipment to the government at exorbitant rates.

In another case, he was held guilty of possessing disproportionate assets worth Rs.4.25 crore in 2009.