Nagpur MCOCA accused flees hospital, caught in Durg

A 24-year-old accused facing trial under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) escaped from Nagpur police custody while undergoing treatment and was later detained in Durg, Chhattisgarh, after a search.

The accused has been identified as Bomtya alias Sheikh Sameer Sheikh Rahim, a resident of Chitranjan Nagar in Kamptee. He was lodged in Nagpur Central Jail and was undergoing treatment in ward number 10 of Government Medical College and Hospital when he allegedly escaped from there on September 19.

According to the complaint filed by police constable Abdul Sohel Nisar, 30, the incident took place between 9.30 am and 10.30 am. Hospital cleaning staff told the policemen guarding the accused that cleaning and mopping work had to be done, and asked them to stay outside the ward.

While the policemen were waiting outside, the accused allegedly took advantage of the opportunity and escaped through a washroom window that did not have a security grille.

His escape was discovered shortly after, following which a case was registered at Ajni police station under Section 262 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on the constable's complaint.

Following the incident, Nagpur City Police formed several teams and launched a search operation to trace the accused. Police officers looked into leads related to his possible location and movements.

During this, New Kamptee police station received confirmed information that the accused was in Durg, Chhattisgarh. Acting on this, police teams detained him there and later handed him over to Ajni police for further legal action.

Police said an investigation is underway into how the accused managed to evade the security posted at the hospital and the full circumstances of his escape.