Kolkata:
The security forces have arrested Sunil Mahto, a key accused in the Jnaneswari Express case, from Midnapore West district, a senior police official said.
Mahto, a railway contractor by profession, allegedly supplied people who uprooted pandrol clips from tracks causing derailment and subsequent death of 148 passengers on May 28 last year.
Mahto, who had been charge sheeted by the CBI in the case in November, was arrested from Manikpara Bazar locality under Jhargram police station this evening, SP of Jhargram police district Praveen Tripathi said.
A resident of Kalojharia village near Manikpara, Mahto will be produced before the chief judicial magistrate's court on Wednesday.
The Jnaneswari Express disaster took place at 1:30 am on May 28 between Sardiya and Khemasuli stations when 13 coaches derailed after pandrol clips on the tracks were removed, with five of the derailed coaches hit by a goods train.
The investigations were initially carried out by the CID. The Centre ordered a CBI inquiry on June 2, which was demanded by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee alleging that there was a "political conspiracy" behind it.
The CBI filed chargesheet on November 29 against 23 persons in the case under Sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Sections 120 (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 325 (causing grievous hurt) and 340 (wrongful confinement).