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New Delhi:An undertrial prisoner who allegedly staged a medical emergency to escape police custody from Delhi’s G.B. Pant Hospital was arrested within 48 hours from Una in Himachal Pradesh, police said on Monday. The accused, Pawan Bhalla, 26, a resident of Budh Vihar in northwest Delhi and originally from Jind, Haryana, was first arrested on June 15 from Rohini for allegedly carrying a button-actuated knife . He was later remanded to judicial custody and lodged in Central Jail, Rohini, officers said. Carrying a button-actuated knife is a crime under Section 25 of the Arms Act.Police said that on June 24, the accused consumed an unknown substance while in prison and was admitted to Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in a drowsy condition with complaints of haematemesis (vomiting blood). He was subsequently referred to G.B. Pant Hospital for further treatment. On June 26 at around 6.45 p.m., while undergoing treatment, the accused sought permission to use the washroom and escaped through a ventilation opening, said police. Despite immediate searches by escorting staff, he could not be traced at the time. A case of escape from lawful custody was subsequently registered against him, and a dedicated police team was formed to track him down. Acting on technical surveillance and human intelligence, police traced him to Una, where he was arrested within two days. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aditya Gautam said, “The accused had executed a planned escape while he was admitted to G.B. Pant Hospital. He waited for an opportunity and escaped through the washroom ventilation opening with calculated precision”. During questioning, police said, the accused disclosed that he travelled from the hospital to Old Delhi Railway Station and took a train to Una. He then stayed with a former associate and later worked at a local warehouse to avoid detection. Police also said the accused has prior involvement in three criminal cases, including a 2023 burglary case. He has worked earlier as a helper in a DJ setup and as a labourer in Himachal Pradesh, and is also addicted to drugs. Published - June 29, 2026 11:37 pm IST
