For almost 10 days since the vanishing act, the prison staff was blissfully unaware about the incident, which came to light only when the undertrial had to be produced in the court. A police team has since been sent to Mouda in search of the undertrial.

The 30-year-old Dhanraj Santosh Dongre alias Dhanya aka Arnya of Babdeo in Mouda tehsil was arrested by the rural police on February 9 for a murder offence. Following investigations, he was produced in the court at Ramtek and was since remanded to judicial custody at the Central Jail here.

In jail, he came in contact with a petty offender, Tukaram Mahadu Mankar (30) of Ramtek, who was arrested last month on charges of loitering around in a suspicious manner. On March 23, a local court had sentenced Tukaram for five-day prisonterm and a fine of Rs 50. The term was to finish on March 27.

Well aware that Tukaram was to be set free in a few days, Dhanya managed to convince him of the need for his presence outside the prison and sought his help in escaping. The duo struck a plan and successfully executed the same on March 27, when Tukaram was to walk out of the jail.

Standing among prisoners who were to be set free that day, Dhanya came forward when the sentry called for Tukaram and managed to fool the prison staff.

It was only on April 6, when Dhanya was scheduled for an attendance before the court, that the matter came to the fore. Both Dhanya and Tukaram have been booked for cheating, impersonation and common motive when jail authorities lodged a complaint with the Dhantoli police. Further investigations were on.