Beleaguered Railawy Minister P K Bansal today received support from unexpected quarters when NDA convenor and JD(U) President Sharad Yadav virtually absolved the Congress leader of any fault in a bribery case involving his nephew.
"If any relative of a political leader is involved in corruption then what is the fault of that leader. I have known Pawan Bansal for a long time. He has been in Parliament for a long time. What has he to do with anything if his nephew is taking bribe," Yadav told reporters here.
He was asked to comment on Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla being arrested by the CBI in connection with alleged bribery of Rs 90 lakh for fixing a top level position in the government.
Singla was arrested in Chandigarh for allegedly accepting Rs 90 lakh in cash from Manjunath, the conduit of Mahesh Kumar, recently promoted as Member (Staff), Railway Board. Kumar was allegedly trying to get a lucrative position as Member (Electrical), Railway Board.
Asked whether Bansal should resign, Yadav said: "How do you plan to run this country then. As a political leader Bansal must be meeting a lot of people, can he check the credentials of everyone."
Yadav, who is the convenor of the Opposition alliance NDA, said that if CBI wishes it can question Bansal over this matter.
"The person who gave bribe and the one who accepted it both have been arrested," Yadav said.
