Two accused who escaped from court premises after attacking policemen sentenced to two years in jail

Two men who had escaped from custody from court premises by throwing some powdery substance in the eyes of a constable have been sentenced to two years in jail by a sessions court on Thursday. Ali Abbas Khan and Raj Chavan were found guilty by the sessions court which said their act was intentional and the attack on the constable escorting them was aimed at escaping.

On June 9, 2018, the two accused were produced before the Esplanade chief judicial magistrate court for hearing in a case filed by the crime branch. When they were being taken back to Arthur Road jail, they told a policeman that they wanted to go to the washroom. He took them to the washroom in the crime detection cell within the same premises. Khan suddenly threw some unidentified powder in the constable’s eyes, and stuck him in his eye, after which both the accused escaped.

Chavan, meanwhile, pushed and assaulted another constable, who was also part of the police escort team. The two accused escaped but were apprehended nearby and were taken back into custody. An FIR was filed at Azad Maidan police station against them.

The court relied on the testimonies of the two policemen and medical evidence of the doctor who had examined the eyes of the constable.