Meanwhile, the report of the IB under the state police, a copy of which has been accessed by The Indian Express, has put the CID in the dock for Nicole’s escape.

According to the report sent to Home Secretary Samar Ghosh, Nicole was kept at Pradhannagar police station after his arrest on August 16 and was brought everyday to Pintel village for interrogation and taken back to the police station in the evening. “It was on August 21, the day he escaped from custody, that Nicole, instead of being brought back to Pradhannagar police station, was kept at Pintel village,” said the IB note.

“The role of Ardhendu Sekhar Pahari, Investigating Officer of the CID, is highly suspicious. He is responsible for the escape,” said a senior police officer.