Convicted Thief Escapes Police Custody Outside Coimbatore Prison

A 25-year-old theft convict named Raghavan escaped from police custody early Saturday morning just outside the Coimbatore Central Prison.

Second Escape

Raghavan was convicted of theft in Bengaluru a few months ago and had previously escaped on June 19 while being transported from Coimbatore to Bengaluru. Police arrested him again in Bhavani on Friday following a case registered by the Annur police.

The Incident

On Friday night around 11 p.m., police produced Raghavan before a magistrate at the Fast Track Court in Coimbatore, where he was remanded to judicial custody. As officers escorted him to the prison entrance gate at around 12.40 a.m. on Saturday, he pushed them and fled. The Race Course police registered a case based on a complaint from the Annur police, and four escorting personnel were suspended for duty lapses.

Context

Authorities have launched a large-scale search involving drone surveillance, CCTV checks, and vehicle inspections across city and district limits, while alerting units in neighbouring areas.