By Tejas Navale
Pune, December 12, 2024: In a shocking incident that raises serious questions about prison security, a life-term convict escaped from the Yerawada open jail. The fugitive, identified as 35-year-old Anil Meghdas Pateniya, was serving a sentence for murder and had been in custody for seven years.
Pateniya, a resident of Mharalgaon, Radhakrishna Nagari in Titwala, Kalyan, Thane district, managed to slip away unnoticed. Senior Jail Officer Rajendra Vasant Marale has lodged a formal complaint regarding the escape at the Yerawada Police Station.
Pateniya’s criminal history dates back to his arrest on June 2, 2016, in a murder case. After years of legal proceedings, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 15,000 on December 12, 2023. Initially, he was held at Nashik Central Jail to serve his sentence but was transferred to Yerawada Jail on June 15 this year.
Citing his behaviour, the jail administration deemed Pateniya suitable for Yerawada’s open jail system—a decision that now stands under scrutiny. The escape came to light during a routine prisoner count at noon on Wednesday when it was discovered that Pateniya was missing.
Following the discovery, an immediate complaint was filed, and Yerawada Police have launched an investigation led by Assistant Police Inspector Vishal Takle. Efforts are underway to track down the escaped prisoner.
