In a shocking turn of events, the Vasai police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against three constables for allegedly assisting a murder accused to flee from custody. The incident occurred on May 18 when the accused, Avinash Soni, was being taken to the Vasai court for a regular hearing.
Details of the Escape
The constables involved have been identified as Eknath Talpade, Prashant Rathod, and Hawaldar Wasim Shaikh, all deputed at the headquarters. They were assigned the duty of transporting prisoners to the court. Initially, Constable Talpade claimed that Soni escaped while he went to the washroom. However, the police grew suspicious and launched a parallel investigation.
Conspiracy Uncovered
The investigation revealed that the three constables had conspired to facilitate Soni's escape. Each played a distinct role: Rathod accepted Rs 45,000 from Soni, Talpade transported him in a private vehicle to his home, from where he fled, and Shaikh coordinated the operation. Along with the constables, Soni's wife, Sakshi Soni (40), and their son, Atul Soni (21), have also been arrested for aiding the escape. All five are currently in seven-day police remand.
Background of the Accused
Avinash Soni is a murder accused in a 2009 Nalasopara murder case. He was wanted by the police until his arrest in December 2025. Senior police officials stated, "We have formed special teams to trace Soni and have scanned several CCTV footage. We are confident that we will nab him soon." The police are continuing their investigation to locate the fugitive.
