Jamshedpur: One of the main accused in the May 28 Jnaneswari Express derailment, Bapi Mahto, and his cousin Vimal Mahto were today produced before a Saraikela court which granted the CBI a day`s transit remand for their production in a Jhargram court.
Chief Judicial Magistrate, Saraikela, Indrason Yadav granted the CBI`s prayer and directed that they be produced before the ACJM, Jhargram by June 23.
They were charged under Section 150 (maliciously wrecking or attempting to wreck train) and Section 151 (damage or destruction of certain railway properties) of the Railway Act, CBI Special Public Prosecutor Partha Tapaswi said.
They were also charged under section 302 (murder) 307 (attempt to murder) and section 120B (criminal conspiracy) and under the Indian Explosives Act among others, he said.
Bapi, along with his maternal cousin Vimal Mahto, who had arranged for his stay, were arrested from a guest-house at Adityapur, six km from Jamshedpur, in Jharkhand`s
Saraikela-Kharswan district yesterday by a joint team of the West Bengal and Jharkhand police.
The CBI had announced a reward of Rs one lakh for information leading to Bapi Mahato`s arrest.
The CBI had also announced a reward of similar amounts for PCPA Convenor Asit Mahto and senior PCPA leader Umakant Mahto.
Maoist spokesperson Akash had yesterday disowned Bapi, saying that the ultras did not kill innocent people.
The Jnaneswari Express had derailed at Sardiha in West Bengal`s West Midnapore district on May 28 resulting in the death of 148 passengers.
PTI
