Not aware of nephew8217;s actions: Bansal

The bribery scandal also led to Bansal's ouster as railways minister

Former railways minister Pawan Kumar Bansal,who was questioned by the CBI in the railway bribery case on Tuesday,tried to disassociate himself from his nephew Vijay Singla and said that he was not aware about the wrongdoings of his nephew.

Bansal was summoned by the investigation agency as a witness in connection with the case in which his nephew and nine others were arrested last month.

The bribery scandal also led to Bansals ouster as railways minister.

During his questioning,which lasted for nearly seven hours,Bansal claimed innocence while giving out his political background and career record leading up to him becoming the railways minister.

Bansals statement,running into several pages,claimed he had met suspended Railway Board Member Staff Mahesh Kumar in his official capacity but never cleared his name for the post. Bansal is believed to have told the CBI that Kumar was the senior most person and was appointed to the post observing all norms and procedures.

To avoid media glare,the CBI whisked away Bansal to the MDMA guest house near Akbar Road at 11 am and recorded his statement till 6 pm. The agency claimed that so far they have not found Bansals direct involvement. His questioning was focused on his role in the appointment of Kumar and nephew Singla,who was allegedly caught accepting a bribe of Rs 90 lakh in Chandigarh.

Bansal also claimed ignorance regarding the bribe money,on which he was made to hear the taped conversation allegedly between Kumar and Singla in which the two can be heard fixing the deal.

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He was also asked if he had taken any action over such appointments in the Railway Board as Railways Minister.

CBI also sought an explanation from Bansal on how his nephew was given a free run to use his office. Sources said Bansal was also examined on the circumstances and movement of files that led to the appointment of Kumar as Member Staff. The agency is of the view that the appointment of Member Staff,a post equivalent to the post of Secretary in the government,cannot be cleared without the concurrence of the minister.

The CBI had last week recorded the statements of Bansals private secretary Rahul Bhandari and then chairman,Railway Board,in which,the agency learnt that it was the minister who ultimately proposes the appointment of a Board member to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister.