Response sought from CBI on bail plea of Bansal's nephew

The Delhi High Court Friday sought response from the CBI on the bail pleas of former railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla and three others, accused in a Rs.10 crore cash-for-post railway bribery scandal

Justice Hima Kohli issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation seeking its response by Aug 30 on the pleas of Singla, suspended Railway Board member Mahesh Kumar, businessman Narayan Rao Manjunath and alleged middleman Sandeep Goyal.

The trial court denied bail to all the four accused in the case July 12 on the ground that they can tamper with the evidence or influence witnesses if released on bail.

The CBI had opposed the bail pleas of the accused saying that they were "main conspirators" and the offence committed by them was of a grave nature.

The investigating agency had arrested the accused for their alleged roles in a bribery case, in which a deal of Rs.10 crore was finalised for arranging one of the top positions in the Railway Board for Mahesh Kumar, then the member (staff) of the board.

Singla was the "main person" whose influence was to be used for the appointment of Mahesh Kumar, the CBI said.

All the accused have been formally charged for the offence of criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The agency filed a list of 90 prosecution witnesses along with the charge sheet and named Bansal, who was forced to resign from his post as the scam was revealed, as witness in the case.

Manjunath and Goyal had helped Mahesh Kumar in arranging money to give bribe to Singla and were to get favours from Mahesh Kumar after his appointment as Railway Board member (electrical), the CBI said in its charge sheet.

Singla allegedly demanded Rs.10 crore and accepted a bribe of Rs.90 lakh from Mahesh Kumar in his office May 3, the CBI said.