Madikeri: An undertrial, who is facing theft charges and was admitted to Madikeri District Hospital after he had consumed phenyl in a bid to commit suicide, has hoodwinked the jail staff and escaped from the hospital toilet on Jan.1.

The undertrial, who managed to escape, has been identified as Ganesh alias Ganapathi, a resident of Suntikoppa in Somwarpet taluk in Kodagu, who was arrested by the Police in a theft case.

The Police, after arresting Ganesh, had lodged him in Madikeri Central Prison. On Dec.30 at about 5 pm, Ganesh, in a bid to end his life, had consumed phenyl in the prison and fell sick following which he was rushed to Madikeri General Hospital, where he was admitted in the Men’s  Emergency Ward with two jail staff on guard.

On Jan.1, at about 10 am, Ganesh wanted to answer nature’s call, following which the jail staff on guard removed the handcuffs and led him to the toilet.

Ganesh, after entering the toilet, managed to escape from the window of the toilet which was closed with glass, scaled down with the help of the drain pipe and escaped from the hospital premises by jumping the hospital wall.

The jail staff after waiting for sometime for Ganesh to come out, went inside the toilet only to find no one there and immediately informed their higher officials besides lodging a complaint with Madikeri Police.

Though there are CCTV cameras installed in the hospital premises, there are no CCTV cameras installed on or near the spot where Ganesh managed to escape and it seems that Ganesh had planned his escape and also knew the route where CCTV cameras are not installed so that he would not be caught.

Two teams, comprising Police personnel and the jail staff, have launched a hunt to nab Ganesh.