Three constables arrested for helping a murder accused abscond

Vasai: The Vasai police have registered an FIR against three constables for helping a murder accused flee from custody while he was being taken to the Vasai court on May 18. Along with the constables, the accused’s wife, Sakshi Soni,40, and their 21-year-old son, Atul Soni, have also been arrested for helping him flee. Currently, they are in a 7-day police remand.

On May 18, murder accused Avinash Soni was taken to the Vasai court for his regular hearing. Constable Eknath Talpade, Constable Prashant Rathod, and Hawaldar Wasim Shaikh, deputed at the headquarters, were assigned the duty of ferrying the prisoners. Talpade claimed that Soni fled custody after he went to the washroom. However, the police doubted this theory and began a
parallel investigation.

It was later revealed that the three constables had formed a team to help Soni flee. They each played a different role. While Rathod took Rs 45,000 from Soni, Talpade took him in a private vehicle to his home, from where he fled. Wasim coordinated the task.

Senior officials said, "We have formed special teams to trace Soni and have scanned several CCTV's. We are confident that we will nab him soon. “ Soni is a murder accused in a 2009 Nalasopara murder case and was wanted till arrested in December 2025.