A POCSO Act accused who escaped from a Mumbai hospital while receiving medical treatment has been re-arrested in Ambernath, triggering an internal inquiry into potential security lapses.
Key Points
- Shrikant Laxman Gofan, accused under the POCSO Act and robbery, escaped from JJ Hospital in Mumbai while undergoing treatment for a kidney ailment.
- Gofan was in judicial custody related to a 2022 case registered at Waliv Police Station, facing charges including dacoity and offences under the POCSO Act.
- He escaped when the escorting constables were briefly absent, one photocopying documents and the other registering him for a sonography.
- Mumbai police successfully re-arrested Gofan in Ambernath, Thane district, after his escape.
- An internal inquiry is underway to investigate potential negligence in security protocols during Gofan's hospital visit.
A POCSO Act case accused was arrested from Ambernath in Thane district after he escaped from a hospital in Mumbai while undergoing medical treatment, a police official said on Thursday.
Shrikant Laxman Gofan, who was in judicial custody in connection with the POCSO and robbery cases, was admitted to JJ Hospital in Byculla for a kidney ailment, the official said.
"He fled when one constable from the escort party went to get his medical documents photocopied and the other went to register the accused for a sonography test. Gofan was re-arrested from Ambernath," the official said.
He is an accused in a 2022 case registered at Waliv Police Station, where he faces charges including dacoity, robbery with a weapon and offences under the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act.
Investigation into Security Breach
An internal inquiry is being conducted to determine whether there was any negligence in security during the hospital visit, the official added.
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