Chandigarh BJP on Friday criticised Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for naming former Railway Minister and local MP Pawan Kumar Bansal as prosecution witness in Railway Board Bribery scam.
The CBI on Tuesday had filed a chargesheet against suspended Railway Board Member (Staff) Mahesh Kumar and Bansal’s nephew Vijay Singla, besides eight others, in the Railgate scam and had given clean chit to Bansal and named him as 39th witness in the case.
Chandigarh BJP president Sanjay Tandon said, The CBI has not put forth the truth and has brought out wrong facts in the case. Also, the CBI is trying to hide the fact that Bansal was involved in the scam.”
The party also alleged that the CBI is working at the behest of the Congress. Tandon demanded that Bansal should be interrogated again and an action should be taken against him in the scam. Bansal should be included in the chargesheet as accused not as witness, he said.
He added, “It is surprising that what to talk of booking the Minister under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the CBI has named him as witness in the scam.” The party reiterated their demand that detailed transcripts of the phone calls available with the CBI regarding the Railgate should be made public.
In the month of May, Bansal’s nephew Singla was arrested by CBI on charge of accepting bribe to fix plum position in the Railway Board. Following his nephew’s arrest, Bansal had resigned from the Railway Ministry on May 10.
Meanwhile, the BJP has initiated its protest against Bansal. The party is observing ‘Black Week’ and has decided to show black flags to Bansal wherever he goes in the city.
The BJP has also released “citizens chargesheet” prepared by the party alleging involvement of Bansal in the scam.
The party would reach to every household apprizing them about the chargesheet prepared by the party. In its chargesheet, BJP has asked 14 questions on why Bansal was not included in CBI chargesheet.