Kolkata, Aug 30 (IANS) A court in West Bengal Monday gave the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody of a pro-Maoist activist in Jhargram of West Midnapore district for his alleged involvement in the May 28 Gyaneshwari Express tragedy, CBI sources said.

Mahanta Mahato, arrested in June for several offences including murder and serving judicial remand, was sent to CBI custody by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) following an appeal by the CBI.

The CBI counsel pleaded at ACJM Abdul Rejja's court pleading to take Mahato in its custody as it had got evidence against him in the Gyaneshwari case.

On hearing the CBI appeal, the judge remanded Mahato, a resident of Rasoi village, to police custody for 11 days.

With Mahato's arrest, as many as 16 accused have been held in connection with the Gyaneshwari case.

The Mumbai-bound Gyaneshwari express ran off the rails near Jhargram after a portion of the tracks was sabotaged allegedly by the Maoists. A speeding freight train then rammed into five derailed coaches of the Gyaneshwari Express, resulting in the large number of casualties.