Midnapore (WB): A local court today granted bail to Peoples Committe against Police Atrocities (PCPA) leader Asit Mahato, a key accused in Jnaneswari Express train sabotage in 2010 in which around 148 people were killed, in the unlawful activities prevention act (UAPA) case.
The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Sujit Banerjee granted bail to Mahato, who is lodged in the Midnapore Central Jail as the CBI failed to submit the chargesheet in the UAPA case against him within the stipulated 180-days of his arrest, however he will remain in jail in other cases.
Mahato was arrested by the CBI on September 26, 2012 under the unlawful activities prevention act (UAPA). The chargesheet against him under the UAPA had to be submitted within 180-days. Today was the last date for filling the chargesheet.
Mahato is one of the key accused in the Jnaneswari Express train sabotage in which around 148 people were killed in the mishap on May 28, 2010. He was arrested from a village in West Midnapore district on November 13, 2011 in the sabotage case.
Mahato was the official Spokesman of PCPA, a frontal organisation of the Maoists.
Many other cases are pending against Mahato.
PTI
