3-train tragedy in Odisha’s Balasore: CBI files chargesheet against 3 railway employees

Bhubaneswar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against three railway employees today in connection with the horrific train accident that took place on June 2 evening near Bahanaga Bazaar railway station of Odisha’s Balasore, which claimed the lives of as many as 296 people and injured around 1,175 others.

The three accused in the chargesheet are the erstwhile SSE (signal) in charge of Balasore Arun Kumar Mahanta, SSE (signal) of Soro Md Amir Khan and the technician of Balasore Pappu Kumar.

A source said that the charges were framed in the court of Special Judicial Magistrate in Bhubaneswar. The four employees were earlier arrested on July 7, and are presently in judicial custody.

“Based on the evidence adduced during investigation of the case, the commission of offences under Sections 304 (Part-II) of IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 34 written with 201 of the IPC (causing disappearance of evidence of offence with common intention) and 153 of the Railways Act, 1989 (endangering the safety of persons travelling by railways by willful act or omission) were made out against the said accused. Accordingly, a charge sheet has been filed,” a CBI press release said.

CBI had registered the instant case on June 6, acting on the request of Ministry of Railways, consent of the Odisha Government and further orders from DoPT, Govt of India relating to the train mishap involving Coromandel Express, Yashwantpur-Howrah Express and a goods train.

The case was previously registered at Balasore GRPS, GRP Cuttack (Odisha) vide GRPS case (No-64, dated 03.06.2023) regarding the mishap. Further probe is underway on an aspect of a larger conspiracy and for possible involvement of others, the CBI communiqué mentioned.