Old rail board postings, contracts under scanner too

Case of disproportionate asset against ex-rail board member likely

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now examining the railway contracts awarded during the past one year as well as railway board appointments since 2009, in connection with the cash-for-posts scam.

The examination of about 500 of the 1,000 intercepted call could help CBI establish a case of quid pro quo between Kumar and other private parties. CBI officials say this can lead to a case of disproportionate assets against Kumar.

The agency has got documents from rail ministry pertaining to certain contracts that have been mentioned in the intercepted phone calls between Mahesh Kumar, who was member – staff, railway board, Vijay Singla, nephew and close aide of former rail minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and middlemen Narayan Rao Manjunath and Sandeep Goyal.

Kumar had agreed to obtain Rs 2 crore as illegal gratification from Manjunath and other businessmen dealing with the Railways to pay bribe to Singla’s associates in exchange for his posting in the electrical department.

CBI is suspicious of the benefits that Kumar must have offer to the businessmen involved in carrying these transactions.

The investigation agency is hopeful that the documented evidence would not only strengthen the current case, it could also lead to a separate enquiry into appointments and awarding rail contracts.

CBI is continuing to investigate rail ministry officials and the board members to find out the details of Kumar’s appointment. CBI is expected to call in Bansal for questioning this week. Having sent the accused into judicial custody till May 20, CBI would file the chargesheet in the case within the next 90 days.

CBI could add more names to the list of nine accused as its investigation proceeds. CBI had registered an FIR on May 3, against all accused for criminal conspiracy and bribery. The agency also interrogated Bansal’s personal assistant Rahul Bhandari and is likely to rope in his officer on special duty Vitul Kumar for questioning soon.