Vadodara: The city police were thrown into a frenzy on Wednesday afternoon after Hardik Prajapati, an accused in a murder case, escaped from police custody. Hardik was being escorted to court for a scheduled hearing when he managed to slip away near the court canteen, prompting a city-wide manhunt.

Authorities have deployed intensive vehicle checks and established roadblocks at multiple points across Vadodara district in an effort to apprehend the fugitive.

According to police, Hardik requested to drink water at the court canteen. Taking advantage of this brief moment, he fled from custody.

The case dates back to May last year, when Dipen Mukeshbhai Patel, a resident of Darjipura in Vadodara, went missing, triggering a massive search operation. During the investigation, Dipen’s white Swift car was found near the Mahi river in Angadh village, and his body was later recovered from a canal in Kalol. Hardik Prajapati was subsequently arrested and allegedly confessed to the murder during police interrogation.

Hardik, who worked as an RTO agent, reportedly killed Dipen over a personal dispute linked to a romantic relationship. Police said Hardik lured Dipen into his car, stopped the vehicle on the road, strangled him with a rope, and fatally stabbed him in the neck. He then abandoned the body on Halol Road and disposed of the car in the river.

Police continue their search for Hardik Prajapati and have urged anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forward immediately.