Graft case: CBI questions Rly Board member

Kulbhushan arrived at CBI headquarters in the morning and was questioned till evening. He was also reportedly questioned about his role as temporary chairman of the Rail Land Development Authority. One of the allegations was that a private builder wanted Rs 20 crore interest waiver in the payment for 38 acres of railway land in Delhis Sarai Rohilla valued at Rs 1,651 crore for which they got in touch with Kulbhushan.

Sources said Kulbhushan told investigators that the interest waiver was discussed at the Board meeting of Rail Land Development Authority he chaired as Member Engineering for some time earlier this year,but the Board decided to recover the amount from the builder.

The CBI also reportedly questioned him about a flat in Bangalore he allegedly bought in someone elses name for Rs 1.8 crore. Sources said Kulbhushan informed the CBI that as Member Electrical,his office has not been responsible for issuing any tender and so the question of his involvement does not arise. Investigators,it is learnt,told Kulbhushan they are armed with phone transcripts,apart from certain discrepancies in files to bolster their case.

Kulbhushan was not available for comment.

A 1975-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers had recently figured in the Railway ministrys contenders for the post of Chairman,Railway Board,but the PE came in the way. Otherwise,sources said,he was tipped to be the next chairman.