Conman attends nature's call, gives police the slip

A habitual cheater escaped from the custody of Kasturba Marg police on Tuesday afternoon at Mira Road, while he was being escorted to Thane Jail. Police officials said that accused, Santosh Rane (38), asked the cops to stop the vehicle and got down, after saying that he needed to answer nature's call. Rane fled from the back door of the hotel where he went to use the washroom. Rane was recently arrested in a cheating case, which involved Congress worker Kumud Patil, who along with another accomplice, cheated innocent students and took their money by falsely promising them admissions to the college of their choice.u00a0

On the loo-se: Santosh Rane, who is wanted in several cheating cases, escaped from the hotel (above) in Mira Road

There are more cases registered against him in Kasturba Marg and Dahisar police station. MiD DAY had earlier reported (‘Congress worker, two others arrested for duping students', July 22) about the trio's modus operandi which involved using Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam's letterhead to lure students.

u00a0Santosh Rane

Quick job
On Tuesday, the private vehicle that was carrying Rane was made to stop at a hotel on the opposite side of the road by the accused. Rane, who was not even handcuffed, was accompanied by only one constable. He told the constable that he was hungry and since they had a long way to travel they should grab a bite. Rane again asked for permission to visit the washroom and fled through the back door.

Strict action
A police officer said, "A case of negligence has been registered against the cops at Kashimira police station. A strict departmental inquiry is set up. The incident raises serious questions, as there are many loopholes like travelling in a private car, no handcuffs and choosing a hotel on the wrong side of the road. It is also alleged that Rane tried to bribe the cops too."u00a0