Pune: Two police personnel from the Cyber Police Station in Pune have been summarily suspended following the escape of an accused during a medical examination. Vikrant Deshmukh, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Financial and Cyber Crimes Branch, issued the order for their suspension, citing negligence on duty.
The suspended policemen have been identified as Police Constable Nikhil Arvind Pasalkar and Police Constable Popat Kalusing Khade. The suspension came in the wake of an incident involving the arrest of Marshal Louis Leelakar (24 years old, a resident of Akurdi, Pune) on February 9, 2024. Leelakar was apprehended in connection with a crime registered at the Cyber Police Station and was subsequently remanded to police custody until February 13, 2024.
According to official reports, Leelakar was being held in lockup at the Vishrambaug police station. However, on February 11, the accused complained of difficulty in breathing, prompting authorities to transfer him to Sassoon Hospital for a medical examination.
During the medical examination at Sassoon Hospital, Leelakar managed to escape custody, evading the surveillance of Superintendent of Police Nikhil Arvind Pasalkar and Superintendent of Police Popat Kalusing Khade, who were tasked with monitoring him.
The escape of the accused prompted swift action from Deputy Commissioner of Police Vikrant Deshmukh, who promptly issued orders for the suspension of Pasalkar and Khade, holding them accountable for the security lapse that allowed Leelakar to abscond.
