Railways scam: CBI grills Bansal's personal assistant

CVC asks agency to share coal probe report and affidavit filed to Supreme Court

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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) quizzed rail minister Pawan Kumar Bansal’s personal assistant Rahul Bhandari for the second time today. CBI sleuths had questioned Bhandari yesterday for the first time in connection with the Railway Board bribery scandal.  

Moving the probe further towards Bansal, the investigation agency is likely to question officer on special duty to Bansal, Vitul Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer, who is a distant relative of the minister. All accused arrested so far in this case have been sent to judicial custody till May 20.

CBI questioned Bhandari on the alleged link between Kumar and Vijay Singla, Bansal's nephew, who is now under CBI arrest. The agency could call Bhandari again for questioning.

It is learnt that CBI is gathering enough evidence before it approaches Bansal to seek his clarification on the matter. Bansal is likely to be questioned soon by CBI. But CBI director Ranjit Sinha told reporters today: “I have no idea on this matter.” On the issue of how the autonomy of CBI will be established, Sinha said: “It’s for the government to decide.”

In a letter written to the CBI director, detailing the various companies owned by Bansal’s sons, including Theon Pharmaceuticals, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya called the railgate scam a Bhanja-Bhatija-Beta business.  

Nine arrests have been made so far in the case.  

Meanwhile, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), an apex autonomous body to address government corruption, has asked CBI to share its coal probe report, as well as the affidavit it filed in the Supreme Court.

CBI had registered a first information report on May 3 against the eight accused for criminal conspiracy and bribery. The agency has alleged that Mahesh Kumar, member (staff) on the railway board, had agreed to obtain Rs 2 crore as illegal gratification from businessmen dealing with the railways. CBI says Mahesh Kumar paid this money 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 Mahesh Kumar’s associates in Chandigarh.