Title - Railgate scandal: A fact sheet

Highlights

On 3 May 2013, the CBI arrested Union Minister for Railways Pawan Kumar Bansal’s nephew, Vijay Singla for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 90 lakh from a middleman on behalf of a member of the Indian Railway Board.





Persons Involved

Vijay Singla – Nephew of Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal
Mahesh Kumar: Member Railway Board
Narayana Rao Manjunath : MD of GG Tronics
Sandeep Goyal: Singla’s friend
Rahul Yadav: Associate of Manjunath
Samir Sandhir
Sushil Daga

Nephew’s link with the Minister

Vijay Singla acquired businesses with diversified interests in real estate, cement, packaging, infrastructure and steel manufacturing over the last decade. It is alleged that his businesses grew because of his proximity to the Minister.

Many of these companies soon began flourishing after Bansal won the 1991 elections from Chandigarh. Singla often facilitated meeting of captains of industry with the Minister at his industrial complex.

Minister’s Role

Members of the Railway Board are appointed by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet; although they usually agree with the recommendations of the Minister.

The Opposition, including BJP has demanded the resignation of the Minister. In fact, its youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) also held protests outside the Minister’s residence on May 6, 2013.

Meanwhile, Congress has said that the Railway Minister will not resign