Mumbai: A man accused of raping a minor fled police custody on Wednesday. He was taken for a routine Covid test and on the way to court, he jumped off the police van at Kandivali signal in Mumbai and fled.
A search is underway to locate the accused.
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According to an ANI report, the official statement by the police said that another case has been registered against accused Avinash Yadav and a search has been initiated to trace and arrest him. When the van had stopped at a signal, the accused took advantage of the situation, pushed the cop who was holding the other end of the handcuffs jumped out of the vehicle, stated a Free Press Journal report.
"On Wednesday, when he was being taken to court after the routine COVID-19 rapid antigen test, the accused jumped off the Police vehicle at Kandivali signal in Mumbai and fled", the police were quoted as saying by ANI.
Yadav, 21, was held for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl under POCSO charges on June 26th. The police had custody of him until Wednesday.
According to a TOI report, Yadav eloped with the victim after which her family lodged a complaint at Charkop police station. An FIR was registered against Yadav as sex with a minor is tantamount to rape.