CBI seeks transfer of Jnaneswari derailment case to Kolkata
The CBI today moved the Calcutta High Court seeking transfer of the case of Jnaneswari Express derailment from West Midnapore district to Kolkata for security reasons.
The CBI on Wednesday moved the Calcutta High Court seeking transfer of the case of Jnaneswari Express derailment from West Midnapore district to Kolkata for security reasons.
Praying for the transfer of the case, in which seven persons have been taken in custody, CBI's counsel Himangshu Dey submitted before Justice Asim Roy that taking the route to Jhargram ACJM court from the jail through open roads surrounded by dense forests was posing a security risk.
As many as 148 people were killed in the Jnaneswari Express derailment on May 28 allegedly triggered by Maoists.
Justice Roy refused to pass an order and directed CBI to serve notice to the prisoners and the state while fixing the next date of hearing on July 21.
The court questioned CBI's logic to seek the transfer even when the charge sheet had not been filed and investigation was in progress.
The court asked the CBI counsel that while the incident had taken place between Jhargram and Sardiha, why should the CBI carry on investigation in the metropolis.
It said the question of transfer of case can be considered when it enters the trial stage.
Six of the accused, including the main accused Bapi Mahato were lodged in Midnapore Jail, while another was in Jhargram jail.
The CBI counsel claimed that bringing them to the court for regular production was posing a security risk for both the accused as also the state police, CBI personnel and lawyers during the hearings.