The CBI is likely to name Rahul Bhandari, personal secretary of former Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, in its chargesheet in the Rs 10 crore cash-for-post scam.
The CBI is in possession of over 1,000 telephone transcripts that it accessed over a period of two months before arresting Bansal’s nephew Vijay Singla in connection with the scam. Reportedly, Bhandari’s name too pops up in these transcripts. The CBI probe in the case indicates that Bhandari had role in transfers and postings in the Railway Ministry. The investigating agency recently questioned him in this regard. The CBI also questioned Bansal. Reportedly, it has not found any evidence of his involvement in the case so far.
On May 3 the CBI arrested Singla while accepting Rs 90 lakh bribe, as part payment of the Rs 10 crore he demanded for appointing Mahesh Kumar, the then general manager of Western Railway to the post of Railway Board Member (electrical).