Railgate: CBI records Vinay Mittal’s statement
31 May 2013 10:50 PM GMT
Railway Board chairman Vinay Mittal was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday and was specifically asked whether he was under any pressure regarding the appointment of arrested former board member Mahesh Kumar.
Sources said that Mittal didn’t give a clear reply to the query. He was questioned for three hours on Thursday late evening from 5 pm to 8 pm.
CBI officials said that they have recorded the statement of Vinay Mittal in connection with the case. Mittal, sources said, was also questioned about details of promotions and postings of board members. ‘He was asked about promotion of Mahesh Kumar from general manager (West) to the Board and also about allowing him to retain additional charge of Western Railway even after his elevation,’ the sources stated.
CBI officials said that Mittal was questioned not as an ‘accused’ and that the agency may use him as a witness in the case. ‘We may use him as a witness in the case as he has given us some crucial information,’ the CBI sources said.
Mahesh Kumar was arrested by the CBI in the note-for-post scam on 3 May along with former railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal’s nephew Vijay Singla after the former had allegedly arranged bribe for appointment to lucrative post of member (electrical) from member (staff). Singla was arrested red-handed from a Chandigarh mall. Pawan Kumar Bansal had to quit as railway minister after cases of nepotism involving his sons and nephews surfaced one after the other as the scam was unearthed.
The CBI had alleged that Mahesh Kumar had contacted a close associate of Singla who demanded Rs. 10 crore for work to be done. The agency had alleged that a part payment of Rs. 90 lakh was being delivered to Singla when he was arrested, after which it carried out searches at their premises and recovered the bribe amount. The CBI has so far arrested eight persons in connection with the case.
Sources said that Mittal didn’t give a clear reply to the query. He was questioned for three hours on Thursday late evening from 5 pm to 8 pm.
CBI officials said that they have recorded the statement of Vinay Mittal in connection with the case. Mittal, sources said, was also questioned about details of promotions and postings of board members. ‘He was asked about promotion of Mahesh Kumar from general manager (West) to the Board and also about allowing him to retain additional charge of Western Railway even after his elevation,’ the sources stated.
CBI officials said that Mittal was questioned not as an ‘accused’ and that the agency may use him as a witness in the case. ‘We may use him as a witness in the case as he has given us some crucial information,’ the CBI sources said.
Mahesh Kumar was arrested by the CBI in the note-for-post scam on 3 May along with former railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal’s nephew Vijay Singla after the former had allegedly arranged bribe for appointment to lucrative post of member (electrical) from member (staff). Singla was arrested red-handed from a Chandigarh mall. Pawan Kumar Bansal had to quit as railway minister after cases of nepotism involving his sons and nephews surfaced one after the other as the scam was unearthed.
The CBI had alleged that Mahesh Kumar had contacted a close associate of Singla who demanded Rs. 10 crore for work to be done. The agency had alleged that a part payment of Rs. 90 lakh was being delivered to Singla when he was arrested, after which it carried out searches at their premises and recovered the bribe amount. The CBI has so far arrested eight persons in connection with the case.
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