The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three railway staffers in connection with the Balasore train accident that resulted in the loss of 294 lives. The CBI has booked them under Sections 304 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deal with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and destruction of evidence, respectively.
The CBI has not invoked Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) against the accused, indicating that there is currently no evidence of sabotage. The three officials arrested are Arun Mahanta, a senior section engineer (signal) and in-charge at Balasore; Md Amir Khan, a section engineer; and Pappu Kumar, a technician.
The CBI is investigating a faulty repair work on a signalling device prior to the accident as a possible cause for the triple-train crash. The agency’s findings align with a joint inspection report prepared by the railways immediately after the accident and the report submitted by the Commissioner of Rail Safety.
It is noteworthy that Arun Mahanta, who was part of the team that prepared the joint inspection report, had expressed dissent regarding its preliminary findings, which identified faulty signalling as the likely cause of the tragedy.
Sources indicate that the use of IPC sections 304 and 201 implies that the accused were aware that their negligence would lead to an accident but did not have the intention to cause one. If intent had been established, the accused would have been charged with murder. The accused are also charged with destruction of evidence for allegedly attempting to cover their tracks after the accident.
Officials clarify that the charge of culpable homicide, and not murder, is invoked due to the absence of motive or intention. The sections under which the accused have been booked are different from those mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the CBI on June 6, which pertained to causing death due to negligence and grievous hurt.
The Balasore train accident occurred on June 2 at the Bahanaga Bazaar station in Balasore district. The Coromandel Express collided with the rear of a goods train, causing the last two coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Express passing on the down line (towards Howrah) at the same time to be hit and capsized due to the derailed coaches of the Coromandel Express.
The arrest by the CBI follows the submission of the report by the Commissioner of Rail Safety, which attributed the accident to lapses at multiple levels in the signalling and telecommunication department. Railway sources clarify that employees involved in an accident should not interfere with the system. Based on the sections of the IPC invoked against the accused, they are charged with destruction of evidence.
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