Patna,(BiharTimes): Awadesh Mandal, the ‘estranged’ husband of Janata Dal (United) MLA, Bima Bharati, escaped from police custody in Purnea on Monday.

Awadesh, a dreaded gangster who faces dozens of criminal cases, including murder, rape, extortion, kidnapping, and battering his own wife, had been arrested on Sunday evening for allegedly threatening witnesses in a murder case.

According to police Awadesh, travelling in a carcade of four vehicles, reached the residence of a widow in Purnea town and threatened her with dire consequences if she and other witnesses deposed in the court and gave their statements against him.

He is an accused in the May 2005 murder of Chanchal Paswan, and the trial of the case is going on in the local court.

Upon this some local people stoned his cars, damaging them badly. Awadesh tried to flee but was caught by police. He was kept in the lock up of Maranga police station.

Reports said that the same battered wife of Awadesh and the local JD(U) MP, Santosh Kushwaha reached the police station to exert pressure on police to release him.

Though on Sunday evening the police refused to oblige Bima and Santosh, yet on Monday Awadesh managed to escape from the custody.

Purnea superintendent of police Nishant Kumar Tiwary told media that raids are on to re-arrest Awadesh. He said that SHO has been suspended for dereliction of duty.