New Delhi, May 4 (PTI) : In a huge embarrassment for the UPA government, the CBI on Friday arrested railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal’s nephew for accepting Rs. 90 lakh in bribe from a senior railway officer seeking “a lucrative posting”.
Senior agency officials said Bansal's nephew V Singla was arrested in Chandigarh for accepting the money from one Manjunath, an alleged middleman for railway board member (staff) Mahesh Kumar.
Kumar was arrested at the Mumbai airport soon after he arrived from Delhi. He allegedly wanted the position as member (electrical), which falls vacant on July 1.
“The new post would have given him the power to influence advanced signalling and telecom contracts worth Rs. 2,300 crore,” a CBI officer, who didn't wish to be identified, said.
The deal was allegedly struck for Rs. 2-crore and Rs. 90 lakh was the first instalment.
The railway board is the highest decision-making body of the Indian Railways. Bansal was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts by HT to contact him.
Manjunath, who appeared to have “mobilised the money” on behalf of Kumar, has also been named in the FIR along with one Sandeep Goyal.
No knowledge about bribe, says Bansal
New Delhi, May 4 (IANS): Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal Saturday claimed that he was innocent, and had "no knowledge or clue" about the bribe that his nephew, Vijay Singla, had allegedly taken for fixing a top level position in the government.
Bansal, denying any wrongdoing from his side, said he had no business relations with his nephew, nor did he have any financial transactions with him.
In a statement, Bansal said he had "no knowledge or clue about the matter at all". He said his relatives "cannot meddle in my official function or influence my decisions".
The minister claimed he had always observed the highest standards of probity in public life, and looked forward to an "expeditious investigation by the CBI in the matter".
Bansal's nephew Singla and three others, including a railway official, were Friday night booked by the CBI in the bribery case.
Singla was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs.90 lakh from a member of the Railways Board who wanted a better position.
The minister has denied involvement.