Tikku murder accused escapes police custody

Mumbai -  In a major embarrassment, an accused in the Arun Tikku murder case, Vijay Palande Tuesday night escaped from police custody hours after he was arrested by the Mumbai police, official sources said.

Palande, who was one of the three prime accused in the case, reportedly jumped over a compound wall and fled when he was being shifted from a vehicle to the police lockup in Oshiwara police station.

Senior police officials rushed to the spot late Tuesday to probe the incident even as the authorities clamped road blocks in Mumbai and sealed exit points out of the city.

Palande had been arrested earlier Tuesday from Ratanagiri district and brought to Mumbai for further investigations in the Tikku murder case.

Despite repeated attempts senior police officials were not available for their reactions on what is perceived as a major security lapse.