Railgate-reports

Railway bribery scam: CBI to question Pawan Kumar Bansal today?

 Thursday, May 09, 2013, Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: In more trouble for Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, Central Bureau of Investigation is likely to question the Congress leader on Thursday in connection with railways bribery scam.

Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla was arrested last week by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 90 lakh. The bribe was paid to him by two people for getting a senior railway officer, Mahesh Kumar, appointed as a member of the powerful Railway Board.

Bansal had issued a statement distancing himself from the incident involving his nephew.

Meanwhile, reports said that the CBI officials today questioned Rahul Bhandari, personal secretary of Bansal in connection with the case.

Bansal had issued a statement distancing himself from the incident involving his nephew.

The CBI is most likely to quiz Bansal as he is now under scanner following the arrest of his nephew Vijay Singla for allegedly accepting bribe to organise a plum posting for a senior official in the Railways.

The CBI sources alleged that Bansal's name was mentioned in several of those conversations. It is also reportedly following up on the interrogation in custody of Mahesh Kumar, who has allegedly said that he had met Singla at Bansal's official residence.

Singla has so far maintained during his interrogation that his maternal uncle was not involved in his alleged dealings. However, CBI sources say that Singla used to visit the Rail Bhawan and spend time in the offices of the Private Secretary and Officer on Special Duty to the Railway Minister.

The CBI has alleged that the Rs 90 lakh seized from Kumar was only part of a Rs 10-crore payoff that was to have secured for him a posting as member (electrical) on the Railway Board, a position with the power to transfer people and award big contracts. Kumar was a member (staff) of the board, and has now been suspended.