CBI to probe derailment of Gyaneshwari Express

 The CBI, however, said it was yet get the notification from the Department of Personnel and Training.

The decision to go ahead with a CBI probe was made after the West Bengal government changed its stand within 24 hours by agreeing to the Central  investigation. On Monday, West Bengal Home Secretary Samar Ghosh had ruled out a CBI inquiry into the Gyaneswari express derailment, a demand made by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.

 The West Bengal government has changed its stand on the day when Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress has almost swept the civic polls.

“The CBI will investigate the case as the incident had taken place on railway property, therefore not requiring the concurrence of a state government in such cases,” an official said in New Delhi.

“We have decided to hand over the case to the CBI under Section 5 of the Delhi Police Special Establishment Act, under which the CBI functions,” the official said.

During the investigation, the CBI will be helped by the Central security agencies, the Railway Protection Force and the West Bengal government.

“Today the West Bengal government has conveyed to us that they will cooperate in the investigation,” the official said.

‘Welcome decision’

Banerjee welcomed the Centre’s decision, saying that truth should come out.
“Whoever has done it, the culprits should be brought to book. It is a heinous crime. The truth should come out,” she said in Kolkata.

The West Bengal government said they have only been informed about the Centre’s decision and that no formal notification has been received yet.

DGP Bhupinder Singh said  the ongoing investigation by the CID would continue till the notification from the Union Home Ministry was received.

Banerjee had alleged that there was a political conspiracy hinting at rival CPM behind the train derailment, and said this could be unearthed only through a CBI probe.