THE Rs 3.66 crore seized by the CBI in raids on Sukh Ram's residences may be peanuts compared to the goldmine waiting to be unearthed. Alleges a former high-ranking official with the Department of Telecommunications (DOT): "During Sukh Ram's three-year tenure as communications minister, Rs 1,200-1,500 crore was paid as kickbacks. About half of this amount was distributed between DOT officials, touts, within and outside the Communications Ministry, and the top brass of some telecom firms who served as conduits for the pay-offs." The story doing the industry rounds is that politicians pocketed the other half.