Pune: A convict serving a life sentence for murder escaped from Yerawada Open Jail on Wednesday (December 11). The fugitive, identified as Anil Meghdas Pateniya (35), had been imprisoned for the last seven years following his arrest in 2016.

According to the complaint filed by Senior Prison Officer Rajendra Vasant Marle at Yerawada Police Station, Pateniya was arrested on June 2, 2016, in connection with a murder case.

A court had sentenced him to life imprisonment along with a ₹15,000 fine on December 12, 2023. He was initially lodged at Nashik Central Jail before being transferred to Yerawada Central Jail on June 15, 2024. Due to his behavior, he was later shifted to Yerawada Open Jail.

The escape was discovered on Wednesday (December 11) during the routine prisoner count conducted at noon, where it was found that Pateniya was missing. The prison authorities immediately reported the incident to Yerawada Police Station, which has launched an investigation into the matter.

Assistant Police Inspector Vishal Takle is leading the investigation to trace the escaped prisoner. This incident raises concerns about the security protocols at the open jail and the screening process used to determine eligibility for placement in such facilities.