Railway bribery: CBI awaiting sanction to book Board member

The Railway Ministry is yet to accord sanction to CBI to prosecute the then Railway Board member Mahesh Kumar as the agency has finalised its charge sheet in the Railway bribery scandal.

The agency has concluded its investigation in the case and has sent its file to the Directorate of Prosecution seeking legal opinion on the evidence gathered and charges levelled against the accused, sources said.

They said the agency would name as accused Kumar, former Railway Minister P K Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla, businessman Manjunath besides middlemen in its first charge sheet which might be filed before July 3.

They said the agency has sent the file seeking sanction to prosecute Kumar to the government and was awaiting response.

According to them, Bansal may not be named as accused in the the first charge sheet filed by the agency but his reference may be made and facts emerging from his interrogation may also form the contents of the charge sheet.

However, they said agency is likely to keep open the probe into the alleged role of Bansal and if it manages to gather evidence linking him with the money trail a supplementary charge sheet would be filed.

CBI sources said they have gathered evidence, a major portion of which contains tapped phone conversations, besides recoveries made from Singla's office and home.

Bansal had to resign from the Union Cabinet in the aftermath of the case involving his nephew, who is alleged to have been operating from his official residence.

During questioning, he has maintained that he has done no wrong in the appointment of Kumar as member of the Railway Board, a post equivalent to the secretary in government.
Kumar had allegedly paid Rs 90 lakh to Singla for retaining additional charge of General Manager (West) after his promotion as Board Member (Staff). This was allegedly part of Rs 10 crore deal Kumar struck with Singla for his elevation as Member (Electrical) in the Board.