Odisha Train Crash: CBI Files Chargesheet Against 3 Railway Officials

Bhubaneswar: The  Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)  on Saturday filed a chargesheet against three Railway officials in the case related to the triple-train crash at Bahanaga Bazar station in Odisha’s Balasore district three months ago.

The officials against whom the chargesheet was filed are the then SSE (Signal), In-charge, Balasore, then SSE (Signal), Soro and then Technician, Balasore  in the court of Special Judicial Magistrate, Bhubaneswar, official sources said.

Based on the evidence adduced during the investigation of the case, a commission of offences under sections 304 (Part II) of IPC (Culpable Homicide not amounting to murder), 34 r/w 201 of IPC (Causing disappearance of evidence of offence with common intention) and 153 of Railways Act, 1989 (Endangering safety of persons travelling by railways by wilful act or omission) were made out against the said accused, they said.

Accordingly, a charge sheet has been filed against them.

CBI had registered the instant case on June 6, 2023 following the request of the Ministry of Railways, consent of the Odisha government and further orders from DoPT relating to the train mishap involving Coromandel Express, Yashwantpur-Howrah Express and a Goods train at Bahanaga Bazar on June 2.

The accused were arrested on July 7, and are presently in Judicial Custody.

Further investigation has been kept open on aspect of larger conspiracy and for possible involvement of others.