The loopholes in the official handout are almost too many to enumerate. In the first place, it must take a man -- no matter how smart -- a great deal of ingenuity to hoodwink two constables and escape in as busy a place as the Music College neighbourhood around 3.30 pm. The entire stretch between Lal Court and the Fire Brigade crossing is jam-packed with pedestrians and vehicles at this time.

Second, there is no plausible place where one may relieve oneself anywhere near the Music College. Also, the story does not account for the injuries Govindbhai, one of the two escorts, sustained in his arm.

These facts -- nebulous as they may seem -- form the basis of the alternate theories floating around about the prisoner's escape. But their significance lies in their source: Officials themselves are expressing doubts about the veracity of the `official version'!

According to them, Chapra bribed his escorts to take him to his Hathikhana residence after his court appearance. He had a sumptuous lunch there; the constables, too, were offered food. Then, the plans went slightly awry. Having `tasted' freedom, Chapra was apparently reluctant to go back behind bars. He armed himself with a knife and stabbed Govindbhai in the arm. Taken aback at this sudden turnaround, the constables apparently let him escape. Govindbhai is still being treated for the injuries.

Sources say the re-arrest, too, owes more to good fortune than police alacrity. Chapra took shelter with a relative, a resident of the Kamatibaug slums, who developed cold feet about the role he had played in the escape. Apprehending trouble for himself, he called the police control room while Chapra was asleep. A police party then got into the act, surrounded the house and arrested Chapra again.

When questioned, Police Commissioner J Mahapatra refused to comment, but said that he had asked an officer of the deputy superintendent of police to inquire into the incident.