Railway bribery scam: New transcripts point to Bansal's role

New transcripts on the Railway bribery scandal have revealed that then Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal could have promised Mahesh Kumar that he would be made Railway Board Member Staff. CNN-IBN reported that telephone conversations show two middlemen talking about Bansal and Kumar in connection with the cash-for-railway posts scandal. [caption id=“attachment_1022993” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Pawan Kumar Bansal. PTI[/caption] Previously accessed transcripts raised questions about Bansal’s role in the scam as the key players allegedly met in his official residence and also called on his land line to fix the appointment. The conversations also expose how middlemen had devised a foolproof plan to convert black money to white. Bansal’s name crops up several times between middlemen Rahul Yadav and Manjunath, reported CNN-IBN. Bansal was forced to resign from the post of Railway Minister after his nephew Vijay Singla was caught with Rs 1 crore in cash. The money was meant to fix the appointment of Kumar. A bribe of Rs 10 crore was allegedly given to Singla, the report said. Bansal was, however, given a clean chit by the CBI in the case and also named a prosecution witness. CBI sources had said they have concluded this case and did not find “prosecutable evidence” against Bansal. The conversation between Mahesh Kumar and Manjunath’s close associate Rahul Yadav gives away the fact Bansal was in the know of the deal to make Mahesh Kumar Member Electrical. Here is the conversation revealed in the transcript accessed by CNN-IBN:[ Rahul Yadav: But how will we make him, because he will not become Member Electrical na? He will or not? Manjunath: No no, he will become Member Electrical. The minister has already told it, you know, the minister talks with Mahesh Kumar directly. Rahul Yadav: No, that is what, after Member Staff, he will become Member Electrical. Manjunath: Yes, yes, yes, yes, June 15 okay. Rahul Yadav: Okay June 15? Manjunath: Yes, the minister only Mr Bansal, straight away Bansal, okay? PK Bansal spoke to Mahesh Kumar and told him by June 15, I will make you Member Electrical, don’t worry, that’s all. Rahul Yadav is not convinced, but Manjunath continues to maintain his stand that the assurance of the position has come right from the very top. Rahul Yadav: There is no loophole na sir? Manjunath: No no, see I have met Mahesh Kumar himself…to check it out. Rahul Yadav: Yeah, so okay? Manjunath: And he has also confirmed, yes the minister spoke to him, directly, okay, now there is no ambiguity. Now with the deal struck, the middlemen are heard figuring out how to arrange the cash to pay the bribe. Manjunath: After June 15 only, we will be giving balance amount okay? Rahul Yadav: Okay. Manjunath: For that Rs 2 crore is coming from Mumbai, you know? Rahul Yadav: Haan. Manjunath: It is arranged boss, see tomorrow Rs 1 crore only I am doing, out of that Murli is giving 25, actually. Okay and I was planning to take 25 from this Manoj, okay 50 from my side, okay that was planned. The worry of handling so much cash is not a problem as in their discussions, the conspiracy runs so deep that they have already figured out how to subvert the black money to evade any suspicion. Rahul Yadav: Last time also, when some money was required in Delhi from GG Tronics, I asked Venu to transfer the money to one of Samir’s jeweller friends okay? Manjunath: Okay. Rahul Yadav: They have some expenses there, but the entry is clear, you know, they take 1 per cent VAT and 0.5 per cent expenses, total 1.5 per cent is spent, but the entry is clear and closed, he will give up cash immediately and he will give us a bill of gold also, okay? Manjunath: Okay. Rahul Yadav: That (bill) you can always keep and whenever you want, you can sell that back to him, whenever you want your money back na, white money back, so you can sell the same go back to him. With agency inputs