A police constable has been arrested in connection with the escape of an undertrial prisoner from the prisoners’ ward at Coimbatore Government Hospital. Police said the constable allegedly accepted money and facilitated the escape.
The undertrial, identified as Ajithkumar (34) from Andhra Pradesh, was arrested by Tiruppur police in an online sales fraud case and lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison. He reportedly faces more than 30 cases across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
On June 12, he was shifted to the hospital due to leg swelling and a fatty tumour-related ailment. Though his condition improved, he was kept in the hospital ward for continued medication for five more days.
Despite police security, the prisoner escaped when he went to the toilet. He was later traced and arrested in Salem district in the early hours of the previous day and brought back to Coimbatore for questioning.
Investigators said constable Sheikh Mohammed Roshan (23) helped the prisoner escape and received Rs 20,000 as a bribe via UPI from the prisoner’s friend Vijayakumar (35). Both Roshan and Vijayakumar were arrested, while SI Periyasamy and armed reserve policemen Bharathidasan and Ashok Kumar were suspended for alleged negligence in security duty.
