Guj HC seeks report on accused escaping from police custody

The Gujarat High Court today directed the state government to file on April 5 a report on escape of some accused from police custody.
The directions by a division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi came in response to a PIL which sought framing of guidelines to prevent such escapes.
The petitioner Praful Desai contended that information received through RTI says that in the last three years till October 2016, as many as 124 prisoners escaped from different police stations across the state.
The information pointed out that 183 policemen were found guilty and punishments ranging from suspension to departmental inquiry were initiated against them.

The PIL mentions that there is a likelihood of a collusion between police and escaped prisoners, some of whom are accused in murder and rape cases.
Desai said in his PIL that the government appears to have no proper guidelines to prevent such incidents and sought the court's direction.
The Gujarat Home Department had seven years ago issued a circular directing police stations to prevent such incidents, the PIL said, adding that the circular reveals such escapes have been taking place since long.