Man arrested in Rs 1.3 crore drug seizure case escapes lock-up by breaking window

A narcotics case accused escaped from Dholpur's Deholi police lock-up after breaking a window. The breach prompted a district-wide manhunt and suspension of two constables.

In Short

• Constable Manoj discovered Srinivasan missing during an early Sunday inspection
• Police established checkpoints across the district, but searches yielded no arrest
• Two duty constables were suspended for alleged negligence after the incident

A man arrested in connection with the seizure of narcotics worth around Rs 1.30 crore escaped from a police lock-up in Rajasthan's Dholpur district after breaking a window on Sunday, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The accused, identified as 45-year-old Srinivasan T from Andhra Pradesh, was in police custody at Deholi police station when he escaped between 3 am and 6 am. Police launched a search operation and set up checkpoints across the district, but he remained untraceable.

Constables Vishnu and Jogesh were on duty at the time of the escape. The incident came to light early on Sunday when constable Manoj checked the lock-up and found Srinivasan missing. He immediately informed Station House Officer Shaitan Singh.

Singh told Press Trust of India that police had intercepted a car near the Bagchauli Khar turn on National Highway 44 on October 17. During a search, they recovered narcotics worth around Rs 1.30 crore and arrested Srinivasan and Gedam Amar Chaitanya, also aged 45. Both are residents of Andhra Pradesh.

The car, which had an Andhra Pradesh registration number, was also seized. During questioning, the accused allegedly told police that they were transporting the consignment from Balligouda in Andhra Pradesh to Dausa in Rajasthan.

A case was registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and the investigation was handed over to Deholi SHO Shaitan Singh. Both accused were produced before a court, which sent one of them to judicial custody and remanded Srinivasan to police custody.

Following the escape, Dholpur Superintendent of Police Vikas Sangwan suspended constables Vishnu and Jogesh for alleged negligence of duty. Police said efforts were continuing to trace and arrest Srinivasan.

Srinivasan, who was arrested after the October 17 narcotics seizure, remained missing after escaping from the Deholi police station lock-up, while police continued their search across Dholpur district.

- Ends