A judicial prisoner admitted for treatment at Sir JJ Hospital in Byculla created panic in the police department after escaping from police custody during a medical examination on Tuesday. However, the accused was later traced and arrested from Ambernath after a swift search operation by the police.
The accused has been identified as Shrikant Laxman Gofan (46), who was lodged in Taloja Central Jail under judicial custody. 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 POCSO Act, among other serious sections.
According to police, Gofan was admitted to Ward No. 9 of Sir JJ Hospital on March 5, 2026, after complaining of kidney-related ailments. On March 10, at around 10 am, police personnel took him to the hospital’s ground floor for a sonography test.
During the process, doctors asked for photocopies of the medical reports. One police constable went outside to get the documents photocopied, while another went inside to register the accused for the sonography test. Taking advantage of the brief moment when both policemen were away, the accused managed to flee from the spot within minutes.
When the police personnel returned, the accused was missing. A search was immediately carried out within the hospital premises, but no trace of him was found.
Following the incident, a case was registered at JJ Marg Police Station, and police teams began scanning CCTV footage and launched a manhunt to trace the accused.
Police officials later confirmed that the accused was successfully tracked down and arrested from Ambernath after a coordinated search operation. Further investigation is underway, and an internal inquiry is also being conducted to determine whether there was any negligence in security during the hospital visit.