CBI special judge Swarana Kanta Sharma on Monday remanded Mahesh Kumar, Member staff, Railway Board, who is under suspension, to four days’ CBI custody.
The CBI investigations revealed that he had agreed to pay Rs 10 crore to the nephew of Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal in order to be posted as Railway board member (electrical).
In its allocation before the court, the CBI alleged that Kumar was the main accused around whom the entire conspiracy revolves. Narayan Rao Manjunath, Managing Director of G G Tronics India Pvt. Ltd, who was in regular touch with Kumar, was formerly the general manager (West) Railways.
Subsequently, Kumar was promoted as member (staff) of the Railway Board on May 2, but he was trying to get himself posted as Member (Electrical) by paying illegal gratification. The investigating agency submitted before the court that Kumar contacted Bansal’s nephew Vijay Singla through middleman Sandeep Goyal and Ajay Garg, both residents of Chandigarh. Vijay Singh had assured that Kumar would be appointed Member (Electrical), Railway Board upon a payment of `10 crore. Goyal had informed Kumar that after Kulbushan, the incumbent Member (Electrical) gets promoted as the Railway Board chairman in June, he would be appointed.
It was decided that `5 crore would be paid in cash and `5 crore after he appointed Kumar as Member
(Electrical). The CBI nabbed Goyal while accepting the bribe instalment of `90 lakh on Friday evening in Chandigarh. The bribe money was arranged by Manjunath, who arranged for the money to be paid in Chandigarh through his Delhi based associates.
The court observed that the CBI custody of accused Kumar is essential as his intercepted phone conversations and disclosure statements, he remains the main person around whom the entire conspiracy revolves.
Kumar had assured Manjunath, other accused Rahul Yadav, Samir Sandhir, who are in the business of supplying equipment to the Railways, that he will abuse his official position and will grant them undue and illegal favours.
The court permitted Kumar to be provided with special food with less oil and if possible, boiled food once a day after the defence lawyers submitted before the court that Mahesh is suffering from high cholesterol, hypertension and piles.
The CBI has so far arrested nine people on charges of criminal conspiracy under Section 120 B of the IPC and under relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for being involved in the `10 crore bribe for post case. Those arrested by the CBI are Manjunath of Bangalore, Sandeep Goyal and Vijay Singla of Chandigarh, Rahul Yadav and Samir Sandhir of Delhi and Sushil Daga of Faridabad.