Chandigarh: The BJP on Sunday demanded that Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) interrogate Union Railway Minister and city MP Pawan Kumar Bansal over the alleged involvement of his nephew in the Railway Board bribery scandal.
Satya Pal Jain, BJP national incharge of the legal & legislative cell and former Chandigarh MP demanded resignation of Bansal and said that Bansal should clear his stand publicly on the issue.
While addressing a press conference here, Jain also produced documents claiming that Bansal and his family had close links with his nephew Vijay Singla, who was arrested by the CBI on Friday.
Jain alleged that Bansal's wife Madhu Bansal and their sons had direct financial interests along with Vijay Singla in 10 different companies since last several years. He claimed Bansal's sons, daughter-in-law, wife and another nephew were associated with almost all the ventures Singla was involved in.
While giving details with documentary proofs, Jain added that there were 10 companies, including JTl Infra ltd, Jagan Realtors Pvt ltd, Bansi Raunaq Energy Group ltd, Vibgyor Designs Pvt ltd, ISIS Packaging Pvt ltd, IVA Healthcare Pvt ltd, Theon Pharmaceutical ltd, Mirage Infra ltd, Jagan Industries ltd among others in which all the relatives, including the Bansal family and Vijay Singla family were on the board of diectors.
Jain produced detailed documents of these companies putting forth names of directors and share holders in these companies.
He added, "In fact, in one such company where Singla is a director, the other director's residence address is listed as Pawan Kumar Bansal's home address. How is it possible that Bansal had no clue about thisIJ" asked Jain. He also alleged that Bansal's Secretary, IAS officer Rahul Bhandari, who is also his sister's son-in-law is involved in several of these deals.
The BJP leader said "we demand that Bansal should come out and give details of all the companies his wife and sons are directors of. He should also tell us which companies he has invested in, and whether he has either borrowed or lent money on behalf of these companies."
While demanding investigation into the entire property details of Rail Minister Bansal and his relatives, BJP further alleged that Bansal's relatives were given contract for potable water supply in the railways.
"Why Bansal is silent over the role of his family in this whole direct financial interconnection through different companiesIJ," questioned Jain.
"Bansal was aware of all the corrupt practices in his Ministry. However, he chose to remain part of the scandal," alleged Jain while questioning "when Railway Minister came to know about the scam through media or CBI on Friday, why did he not take prompt action against Mahesh Kumar, then member (staff), Railway Board, New DelhiIJ"
The BJP leader also threatened that if Congress does not take any appropriate action against the Railway Minister, they will knock the doors of High Court or Supreme Court to take the matter to a logical end.
Bansal's nephew Singla was arrested by CBI on Friday on charge of accepting bribe to fix plum position in the Railway Board. Singla, who is setting up mall-cum-hotel project, Acropolis, in Chandigarh's industrial area, has business interests in real estate, industry and other projects.