Bansal quizzed by CBI over dealings with nephew in bribe-for-post scam

Bansal had to quit as Railway Minister following a bribery scandal allegedly involving his nephew came to light

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday questioned Pawan Kumar Bansal, former railway minister, regarding his alleged role in the bribe-for-post scam.

Rather than calling him to the CBI headquarters, the agency quizzed Bansal at a smaller office in the capital's Jamnagar House, where the Enforcement Directorate's regional office is also located.

The former minister arrived there at around 11 am and was questioned for over seven hours by CBI sleuths.  

CBI director Ranjit Sinha told Business Standard: “It’s only after his examination that we can decide whether he is a suspect in the case or not.” Bansal would likely be called for questioning again, Sinha added.

The investigation agency, it is learnt, asked Bansal about his involvement with his nephew, Vijay Singla, now under CBI arrest. Bansal was also questioned about meetings between Singla and Mahesh Kumar, member-staff, railway board, another accused in the scandal.  

Bansal had to quit the ministerial post after the bribery scandal came into light.

The agency also probed Bansal over the appointment of Kumar in the railway board. Bansal has maintained that he is not in the wrong and has not done anything to aid any corruption activity.

CBI officials are also probing other rail board appointments. Bansal was also confronted with call records of conversation Singla had on his (Bansal's) landline phone with Kumar and others.

CBI is expected to file a chargesheet against the nine accused within 60 days. The agency is likely to add more names to the list of accused.

CBI had registered a first information report on May 3 in this matter alleging that Kumar had paid Rs 2 crore as bribe money to Singla’s associates in exchange for his posting in the electrical department. CBI had laid a trap where they caught a bribe of Rs 90 lakh being exchanged between Singla’s and Kumar’s associates in Chandigarh.

CBI had registered an FIR on May 3 in this matter alleging that Kumar had paid Rs 2 crore as bribe money to Singla’s associates in exchange of his posting in the electrical department. CBI had laid a trap where they caught a bribe of Rs 90 lakh being exchanged between Singla’s and Kumar’s associates in Chandigarh. All accused in the case have been arrested including Ajay Garg, Narayan Rao Manjunath, Managing Director, G. G. Tronics India, and close aides of Singla - Samir Sandhir, Rahul Yadav, Panchkula based Sandeep Goyal.

The government, along with the industry, has initiated string of measures to tackle the situation. The Centre is already working on a ‘track and trace’ mechanism, which would enable monitoring the supply chain at all the levels---primary, secondary and tertiary.

“In due course, online application filing and tracking system would be evolved to bring in sufficient expediency and transparency in the entire supply chain,” the statement said.

The government has also expressed enthusiasm to meet international requirements for exports of pharmaceutical products by taking steps to comply with the new procedural requirements of the European Union (EU) for import of active pharmaceutical ingredients into the EU.

According to commerce ministry data, India is the largest exporter of formulations, in terms of volume, with a market share of 14 per cent. In 2012-13, India exported pharmaceuticals worth $14.5 billion. The US is the largest market for Indian generic drug makers, followed by the UK.