Cuttack/Bhubaneswar: Madhukant Rana, a criminal who escaped from Choudwar Circle Jail on Oct 3, 2025, was nabbed from UP following a coordinated operation by Cuttack police. Police said Rana (24) of Bihar’s Saran district was arrested in Panikoili in Jan last year for his involvement in dacoity, murder and illegal possession of firearms. He was lodged in Choudwar jail following transfer from Jajpur Road sub-jail.According to investigators, Rana escaped along with co-accused Raja Sahani by scaling the jail boundary wall under the cover of darkness. By the time jail authorities detected the breach, both men had disappeared. Choudwar police registered a case under Sections 262/3(5) BNS.Commissioner of police S Dev Datta Singh said the accused frequently changed locations, identities and occupations to evade arrest, and avoided electronic surveillance. “Raids and verification drives were conducted across several states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka and Nagaland. Acting on specific intelligence about his presence in UP, a special team of the commissionerate police proceeded to Vrindavan and coordinated with local police. Rana was found living under the alias ‘Basu Pandey’ and working at a guest house attached to an ashram. An undercover officer stayed at the guest house to confirm his identity before he was taken into custody,” the commissioner said.Police said he was produced before a court in Mathura, and transit remand was obtained for his production before a court in Cuttack. Efforts are underway to trace the 2nd escapee and identify those who may have sheltered the accused during his the period when he was absconding.The search initially yielded only fragmented clues. Police cited brief CCTV movement near the boundary wall, jail records suggesting possible reconnaissance behaviour, and minor leads emerging from different parts of the country. Multiple teams were formed to pursue parallel lines of inquiry, combining technical intelligence, human sources, and coordination across jurisdictions.The commissionerate police team was assisted by Bihar STF and Mathura police in the operation. “During the chase, the absconding accused himself escorted the decoy to the allotted room, strengthening suspicion regarding his identity,” a police officer said.
