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High Court allows transfer of Jnaneswari case

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation to transfer the Jnaneswari Express derailment case, which it is investigating, from a court at Jhargam in Paschim Medinipur district to one in Midnapore, the district headquarters, but turned down a plea for shifting it to a court here.

The CBI had petitioned for transfer of the case to a court in the State capital on grounds of security of the accused and personnel escorting them from the Midnapore central correctional home, where they are incarcerated, to the court in Jhargram.

Justice Ashim Kumar Roy, however, turned down the plea. Counsel for the CBI later told journalists that it had been pointed out to the Calcutta High Court that the route to the Jhargram court passes through nearly 20 km of dense forests where Maoists are known to have their hide-outs.

All 150 passengers died in the Jnaneswari Express derailment on May 28 at Sardiah in Paschim Medinipur district. It is suspected to have been the handiwork of the Maoists and the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee.

Bail granted

In another development, a court at Tamluk in Purbo Medinipur district extended till November 30 the bail period for Gurjant Singh, the driver alleged to have made an attempt on the life of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.

Mr. Singh's lorry had hit a car in Ms. Banerjee's convoy, which in turn brushed against the one in which she was travelling on her way back from Lalgarh on August 9. A complaint was subsequently made at the local thana by Subhendhu Adhikari, a Trinamool Congess MP, charging Mr. Singh with attempt to murder Ms. Banerjee.

The court also granted Mr. Singh permission to leave the State after the Criminal Investigation Department submitted the case dairy and a mechanical report stating that the accident had occurred due to brake failure.

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