Bribery case: Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal meets PM, offers to resign

Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal on Saturday offered to resign over the Railway Board bribery case. The announcement came after Bansal met with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence at 7RCR.

CBI booked Vijay Singla, the nephew of Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 90 lakh for promotion of railway board (staff) member Mahesh Kumar. Singla is said to be based in Chandigarh.

"CBI has registered a case against a member staff of railways, Mahesh Kumar and three private persons - Vijay Singla and Sandip Goyal in Chandigarh and a person named Manjunath plus other unknown persons. A part sum of 90 lakh was allegedly paid for promotion of the said railway officer. There is no arrest so far," a CBI spokesperson said.

However, Bansal distancing himself from his nephew's arrested said he had no business links with him and denied any wrongdoing.

He also sought an expeditious CBI inquiry into the issue. "Regarding yesterday's incident involving my sister's firm in a CBI raid at Chandigarh, I have to say that I have no knowledge or proof about the matter at all. Though a close relative, he or any other relative of mine does not and cannot meddle in my official function or influence my decision.There is also no business relationship between his and my family.

"I have always observed highest standard of probity in public life and look forward to an expeditious investigation by CBI in the matter", he said in the statement.

A special court today granted the CBI two days' transit remand of a Member of the Railway Board in an alleged graft case.

Mahesh Kumar, recently promoted as Member (Staff) of the Railway Board from the post of Western Railway General Manager, was arrested late last night at the city airport on his arrival from Delhi.

He was produced before a special CBI court here which handed him over to the premier investigative agency on two days' transit remand for taking him to Delhi. He is likely to be shifted to the national capital this evening after CBI obtains a copy of the court's order.

A senior CBI official said Kumar was taken to St. Georges hospital last night for a medical check up.

The Railway Board had recently appointed Subodh Jain as Member (Engineering), Mahesh Kumar as Member (Staff) and Arunendra Kumar as Member (Mechanical). The post of Member (Traffic) is yet to be filled up.

The chairman of Railway Board is retiring in June along with the Finance Commissioner and the entire Railway Board is expected to see new faces.