He planned his escape in Tihar

Safdarjung Hospital premises witnessed high drama on Monday morning. Patients and doctors heard gunshots and saw policemen chasing a man, reports HT Correspondent.

Safdarjung Hospital premises witnessed high drama on Monday morning. Patients and doctors heard gunshots and saw policemen chasing a man.

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There was panic on the premises when Ravi Kapoor, accused in the Soumya Vishwanathan murder case and also the Jigeesha Ghosh case, tried to escape while at the hospital for a check-up.

“As it is Diwali time, some patients mistook it (the sound of gunshots) for crackers,” said KT Bhaumik, medical superintendent, Safdarjung Hospital. “The hospital was full of patients as it was the OPD hours, but no one was injured.”

After Kapoor was arrested in March this year, he reportedly injured his leg when police beat him in custody. Police said on the orders of the court, he was being provided treatment at the orthopedics department of the hospital.

After his escape was cut short and he was caught on Monday, Kapoor disclosed that while lodged in Tihar, he hatched the plan to escape when he would be taken to hospital next.

He is lodged in jail for several murder cases and a case under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.

Police sources said Kapoor got the chilli powder while inside jail and paid a huge sum for it. “We are investigating where he got the chilli powder from. It could have been in the hospital or in the jail,” said HGS Dhaliwal, DCP (south).

Head Constable Ashok Kumar, who caught Kapoor, had come to the hospital for treatment when he saw him running away.

“The head constable was not on duty. He was unarmed and was in plainclothes when he gave Kapoor a chase. Constable Virendra Kumar was passing by when he heard the commotion and chased the accused. The two policemen finally pinned him down and he was arrested,” said Dhaliwal.

Kapoor was arrested two years ago on charges of impersonating as a policeman at a discotheque in Defence Colony.

A resident of Madangir, he had given an impression to his neighbours that he was a policeman.

Tihar Jail officials said they were tired of Kapoor’s actions on the premises and closely monitored his movement. Police also reportedly found Rs 1,000 from his possession.