Railgate | CBI in no hurry to question Bansal

The agency wants to scrutinize all documents, taped conversation before quizzing the former minister

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) appears to be in no hurry to question former railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal in the post-for-money case.

Although officials had earlier indicated that Bansal was to be questioned soon after the alleged scam became public, now the agency wants to scrutinize all the documents and the taped conversation before quizzing the former minister.

CBI has sent the intercepted telephonic conversation for forensic analysis, since it is the main source of evidence in this case.

The investigation agency is proceeding with its probe based on the names and contracts mentioned in the taped talk.

CBI had also got the documents from the rail ministry pertaining to contracts mentioned in the conversation between four accused 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.

The agency will start probing other appointments in the railway board since 2009 when Mamata Banerjee was the minister only after it is close to completing the current enquiry, a senior CBI official said. CBI has 90 days’ time to file chargesheet in this case.

It has finished its interrogation of all the arrested accused and sent them for judicial custody till May 20.

The case in this regard had been registered on May 3 against all accused for criminal conspiracy and bribery. 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 likley to add more charges as well names to its list of accused.

Meanwhile, the agency also got Anil Kumar Sinha as its special director. Sinha has succeeded V K Gupta to become the second in command the CBI. He is a 1979 batch officer from Bihar cadre, who has joined CBI from the Central Vigilance Commission.