In a scene straight out of a crime thriller, a murder-accused under judicial custody managed to escape from Prachin Hospital in Panvel on Friday, leaving the police red-faced. The accused, identified as Rajkumar Mhatre, had been admitted for treatment under police supervision. Mhatre was arrested last month in an attempt-to-murder case registered at Khutali, Taloja, and was being treated for undisclosed ailments.
According to police sources, Mhatre gave officers the slip sometime on Friday while still admitted in the hospital. His disappearance went unnoticed until a routine check revealed he was missing. The incident has sparked outrage and embarrassment among authorities, with questions raised over how a judicial custody prisoner could vanish from a private hospital without anyone noticing.
As soon as the escape was reported, Panvel city police launched a massive manhunt. Checkpoints have been set up across major routes, and search teams have been dispatched to Mhatre’s known hideouts. “It appears that Mhatre had been planning this for some time,” said a senior officer, speaking to mid-day on condition of anonymity. “We are scanning CCTV footage from both inside and outside the hospital to trace his movements.”
Initial findings suggest possible negligence or insider assistance, though officials have refrained from confirming details. Sources said both the hospital staff and the police personnel on duty at the time are being questioned, and disciplinary action is likely if lapses are confirmed. Meanwhile, the Panvel police have circulated Mhatre’s description across the region, as the hunt intensifies for the fugitive who managed to outsmart his custodians in broad daylight.
