This is the second time Rohida has escaped from police custody. Last time he had given a slip to the police while being taken from Pune's Yeravada jail to Ulhasnagar court on May 14, 1996, but was caught by Detection of Crime Branch sleuths of Vadodara in Indore on June 4, 1997 for extorting a ransom from a builder in Panigate area and threatening others.

According to GRP here, Rohida, who was undergoing sentence in the Baroda Central Jail, had been taken to Mumbai on April 22 for production before the Ulhasnagar and Mumbai Central courts in some criminal cases.

Accompanying him were sub-inspector Bharat Kumar Somnath Joshi of Karelibaug police station, head constables Kashiram Bhagwati Prasad, Mahipat Narayan, and constables Mahesh Vasantbhai and NanjiShivjibhai. While the PSI was armed with his service revolver, one constable had a stengun and others .303 rifles.

After court appearances, the police party, along with Rohida, went to Mumbai CST railway station last night to catch the train. There, Rohida was allowed to meet his wife and son. The latter bought a packet of biscuits from the platform and put it in Rohida's bag. When the train reached Surat railway station at 1.30 am, Rohida ate a few biscuits and offered some to the police party. He also offered them water and tea. Soon, the policemen became unconscious. They regained consciousness when the train reached Anand railway station and found Rohida missing. Mercifully, Rohida, who hadn't been handcuffed, didn't take away their weapons.

The police team then returned to Vadodara by another train in the morning and lodged an FIR at the GRP station. GRP sources said the policemen still seemed to be under the influence of sedatives when they reached here. Commissioner of Police J Mahapatra saidinspector S S Baranda of Karelibaug police station had been asked to conduct an inquiry. Action would be taken against the police party, ``if found guilty'', he said.