The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday told a Jhargram court that one of the arrested persons in the case of the Jnaneswari Express derailment in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district was a juvenile on the day of the crime — three days short of becoming an adult.
Hiralal Mahato was arrested on June 15 for his alleged involvement in the sabotage, and the CBI claimed that it had “sufficient evidence” of his active participation in fiddling with the rail track at Sardiah, resulting in the derailment and death of 150 passengers.
Mahato is being charged under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, the Indian Railway Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Explosive Substances Act.
He was 3 days short of becoming adult
Speaking to The Hindu over telephone from New Delhi, CBI spokesperson Harsh Bhal said the agency found from Mahato's school-leaving certificate that his date of birth is June 1, 1992. “This means he was three days short of becoming an adult on the day of the crime.” On being informed by the CBI, the court directed defence counsel to move an application for Mahato's trial under juvenile laws.
Defence counsel Kaushik Sinha said he had submitted, the very first day Mahato was produced in court, documents to show that he was a minor and appeal for bail.
“He is a student of class IX at the Manikpara High School. Though the CBI opposed my appeal then, it finally realised the point.”
