Balasore Train Accident: CBI Files Chargesheet Against 3 Railway Staff for Destroying Evidence

New Delhi: The CBI has filed the chargesheet against three railway employees Arun Kumar Mahanta, Md Amir Khan, and Pappu Kumar in the case related to the Balasore train accident that claimed 290 lives.

These railway employees were earlier arrested in July. They have been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and destruction of evidence.

Arun Kumar Mahanta, senior section engineer; Mohammad Amir Khan, section engineer; and technician Pappu Kumar were arrested by the CBI for their role that led to the accident.

Coromandel Express, Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express coming from opposite directions and a goods train parked at Bahanaga Bazar railway station crashed together in Balasore.

The CBI has alleged that the repair work at the level crossing gate number 94 near Bahanaga Bazar station was done by Mahanta using the circuit diagram of LC gate no. 79. The duty of the accused was to ensure that testing, overhauling and carrying out alterations to the existing signal and interlocking installations were in accordance with the approved plan and instructions which he did not do.