Odisha train mishap: CBI gets 5-day remand of 3 arrested railway officials

Bhubaneswar: A special court here today allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take three railway officials, who have been arrested in connection with the Balasore train mishap in Odisha, on remand for five days.

The three officials were produced in a special CBI court here after examination of their health condition at Capital Hospital, sources said.

The CBI sought the permission of the court to take the three arrested officials on remand, sources added.

Earlier in the day, the CBI arrested Senior Section Engineer (signal) at Balasore Arun Kumar Mahanta, Senior Section Engineer (signal) at Soro Muhammad Amir Khan and Technician at Balasore Pappu Kumar in connection with the Balasore train mishap on June 2.

The three officials were arrested under Sections 304 and 201 of the IPC and Section 153 of the Railways Act, CBI sources said.

A few days ago, the CBI had raided the rented house of Khan at Soro in Balasore district. The CBI team had also sealed Khan’s rented house and interrogated him in connection with the mishap.

The CBI had questioned Bahanaga Bazar stationmaster SP Mohanty in connection with the mishap.

Notably, as many as 294 passengers were killed and 1,200 others left injured in the mishap involving Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express, a stationary goods train and Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express near Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Balasore on June 2.

The CBI took over the investigation from Government Railway Police (GRP) soon after the Railway Board sent a recommendation in this regard to the Centre.