Bansal to be questioned in due course: CBI chief

Will be grilled on Mahesh Kumar's appointment, dealings with nephew Singla

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is in the process of consolidating its findings in the bribe-for-post rail scam, has decided to question former rail minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, a month after a first information report (FIR) was registered in the case. CBI Director Ranjit Sinha told Business Standard the agency would question Bansal "in due course".    

Sinha indicated that there could still be some time before CBI sleuths quiz Bansal, who had to quit the ministerial post after the scandal came to light. Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla was named as one of the key accused in the case.

CBI had registered the FIR on May 3, alleging that Mahesh Kumar, member-staff, railway board, had paid Rs 2 crore as bribe 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.

Bansal will be quizzed about Kumar’s appointment and his dealings with his nephew Singla. CBI will also confront Bansal with the intercepted call records where Bansal’s name has been mentioned on several occasions.

All accused in the case have been arrested including Ajay Garg, Narayan Rao Manjunath, managing director of GG Tronics India, and close aides of Singla--Samir Sandhir, Rahul Yadav and Panchkula-based Sandeep Goyal.

CBI has gathered documented evidence regarding the appointment of Kumar from the rail ministry. Bansal has maintained that he is not in the wrong and has not done anything to aid any corruption activity.