Both constables escorting Chhatrapal to the Additional District Judge’s court has been suspended and the police are now fanning out, looking for the unidentified woman who allegedly handed over the duplicate key to Chhatrapal. “It does look like he had planned it (in advance) and bribed his way out,” SP (City) Paresh Pandey agreed today.

According to eyewitnesses in the court premises, a woman had passed “something” on to Chhatrapal and quickly made her way out of the premises in a matter of seconds. This, even as Constables Karam Vir and Bhagwati Prasad walked ahead of the accused. That, police officials say, is out of tune with norms — the procedure is for one of the cops escorting accused persons to walk behind them.

“Chhatrapal was wearing a shawl, and he could easily have hidden the duplicate key passed on by the woman under it and opened the handcuffs,” a witness said.

Besides, witnesses pointed out, Chhatrapal had not been tied to the other two accused, Pawan and Jitendra, which officials say is the general procedure.

The constables also did not inform higher officials that the accused had fled for a long time after the escapade on Monday afternoon. Prasad and Vir were, instead, purportedly hunting for Chhatrapal themselves, the police said.

Gupta’s counsel, B R Sharma, said the timing to present Chhatrapal, too, looked out of order: “The accused were brought out of lockup even though the call to present them had not yet been given. They were waiting in the court premises without anyone keeping an eye on them.”

‘Girlfriend’ phone under surveillance
Police sources said Chhatrapal might have gone to his girlfriend’s house in Preet Vihar, east Delhi, following his escape. He was purportedly in constant touch with the girl over telephone after kidnapping three-year-old Anant. The girl also came to meet him in jail, and sometimes visited the courts during hearing, sources said.

SP (City) Paresh Pandey said Noida Police’s electronic surveillance team is tracking phone calls to the girl and other relatives of Chhatrapal. Sources said Chhatrapal made two calls after escaping yesterday; the police do not have the records, though.

“A team has been sent to Delhi,” Pandey said.

Security raised at house, school
The police have beefed up security outside Naresh Gupta’s house in Sector-15A, Noida. Gupta himself has also hired guards from a private security agency.

Anant’s mother Nidhi said, “Our main concern is to have security around Anant when he is going to or returning from school.”

At Lotus Valley School, the administration claimed security arrangements are “foolproof”. Principal Madhu Chandra said, “At least 40 guards are present at all times; maids are also present in every bus. Special instructions have been given to all of them.”

The school runs 17 buses, and each has a maid, a cleaner and a guard at any given moment, Chandra said.