Railway bribery case: Lalu Yadav backs Pawan Kumar Bansal

PATNA: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav today backed Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, saying he is an "honest person" and that his nephew could have misused his proximity to him.

"Bansal is an honest person (Bansal ek imandar wyakti hain)," the former Railway minister told reporters here.

His kin could have taken advantage of their proximity to him as it so happens in public life, he said.

Relatives do misuse their proximity with ministers, Prasad said.

On the charge that Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla allegedly took Rs 90 lakh from Railway Board Member (Staff) Mahesh Kumar for his promotion recently, Prasad said the money could not have been taken by Bansal's nephew with his consent.

Prasad demanded that the Mahesh be booked on corruption charge for seeking promotion by payment of bribe.