Rape accused escapes from Maharashtra jail

"Under-trial Amol Devkar, who was under judicial custody for raping a minor girl, managed to escape from the district Central Jail yesterday," Jail Superintendent Gyaneshwar Jadhav said.

"The accused, who was allotted task in the jail kitchen, climbed the 14-feet-high wall and fled in the wee hours," he said.

Jail guard Lalsingh Dabe lodged a complaint with the City police station in this connection, following which a case under section 224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension) of IPC was registered, he said.

SP Chandrakishor Mina and Additional SP (crime) Vijaykant Sagar visited the jail and inspected the spot of escape of the accused, he said, adding police teams have been formed to trace him.

A security lapse is said to be the reason behind the incident, he said. The jail employee responsible for the incident is yet to be identified, he said, adding further investigation is on.