Pune: In a dramatic escape, a gangster managed to slip out of police custody while being taken back to Yerawada Police Station after a medical examination.

The incident took place on Monday (October 21) night at around 9:45 PM at Gunjan Chowk. The fugitive, identified as Nikhil Madhukar Kamble, exploited a moment of distraction, claiming severe discomfort and asking for water, to flee from the police.

Kamble, a 28-year-old resident of Laxminagar, Yerawada, was under arrest in a case registered under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

He was taken along with two other accused, Sudesh alias Babya Rupesh Gaikwad (22) and Atib Akhil Sayyed alias Bhanda (19), for a medical examination at Sassoon Hospital by a police team led by officers Ghule, Ombase, and Constable Kharade.

Earlier in the day, Kamble had complained of stomach pain, which prompted the police to take him to the hospital.

Following the examination, Kamble insisted that the handcuff on his left wrist was too tight, requesting the police to loosen it. The officers slightly loosened the handcuff.

While returning to the police station, Kamble feigned worsening symptoms and demanded water. The police vehicle was stopped at Gunjan Chowk, and Officer Ombase got out to fetch water.

Seizing the opportunity, Kamble quietly slipped his hand out of the loosened handcuff, opened the car door, and fled towards Yerawada Gaothan.

The police chased Kamble but were unable to catch him due to poor visibility and heavy traffic. The control room was immediately alerted, and a search operation has been launched. Inspector Ravindra Shelke is currently leading the investigation to locate the fugitive.