The dramatic escape of notorious fraudster Suleman Siddiqui Khan from police custody brings back memories of the infamous serial killer Charles Sobhraj. In some ways, it feels like history repeating itself, taking us back to Sobhraj’s world of daring escapes. This incident has sent shockwaves through Goa’s civil society, exposing deep flaws in the police security system and infrastructure. Many of us are fascinated by jailbreak scenes in films, where the hero or villain outsmarts the guards. But in real life, such escapes highlight serious lapses in security and negligence.
Section 167 of the Code of Criminal Procedure outlines the rules for holding a person in custody. The purpose of police custody is to keep the accused under close supervision to prevent them from committing further crimes, escaping, or tampering with evidence during an ongoing investigation. This escape reflects a grave failure on the part of the police. Who is responsible for this negligence, and what action will be taken? Will the government take steps to improve and streamline Goa’s police force? These are the pressing questions that need answers.
