How can a serious offender escape from a crowded court?

This is with reference to 2 cops suspended, manhunt on (September 21, page 1).

It is shocking to learn that Indian Mujahideen member Afzal Usmani, accused of involvement in the 2008 Ahmedabad bomb blasts, escaped from the sessions court even when he, along with 20 other accused, was escorted by nine policemen.

It’s hard to digest how a serious offender like Usmani, who had fled to Pakistan after jumping bail in 1999 in a theft case, was not handcuffed when he was brought to the court?

Usmani’s escape from a crowded court smells quite fishy. The police should take full responsibility. And mere suspension of constables cannot absolve higher officers from this embarrassment.

— YG CHOUKSEY clean chit to Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in the Adarsh Housing Society scam and now it has closed a six-yearold disproportionate assets case against Mulayam Singh Yadav and his sons Akhilesh and Prateek.

In both the cases, the CBI cited lack of evidence. One wonders whether the CBI is too eager to close its pending sensitive cases to boost its image.

To declare lack of evidence a reason to close the case after six long years of investigation sounds very frivolous.

Such shoddy work will unfortunately push people to lose faith in the country’s premier investigating agency.

— DEEPAK CHIKRAMANE