Coimbatore prisoner Raghavan, who escaped custody twice, questioned for second day
Synopsis
A 25-year-old repeat escapee who allegedly assaulted his escorts and fled Coimbatore Central Prison — his second breakout in a single day — was run to ground in Sathyamangalam forest using drone surveillance. Four police personnel have been suspended, and investigators are now probing whether Raghavan had outside help during each of his at least three known escapes.
Key Takeaways
Raghavan , alias Kozikaran , aged 25 , escaped police custody twice within 24 hours before being arrested in the Sathyamangalam forest area , Erode district .
The second escape occurred on the night of 30 October when he allegedly assaulted escorts at the gates of Coimbatore Central Prison .
Six special teams were deployed; the manhunt covered Erode , the Nilgiris , and parts of Karnataka and Kerala before he was located using drone surveillance .
Raghavan was questioned by Racecourse police for the second consecutive day on 3 November 2026 ; police are probing possible outside assistance.
All four escorting personnel , including a sub-inspector , were suspended for alleged negligence, and a separate case was registered.
Raghavan faces multiple cases including robbery and theft , and has a history of at least three escape attempts , including one in June 2026 .
A 25-year-old remand prisoner who broke out of police custody twice within 24 hours — and was ultimately tracked down in the Sathyamangalam forest area of Erode district — was questioned by Coimbatore police for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. The accused, identified as Raghavan, also known as Kozikaran, is being interrogated by the Racecourse police to establish precisely how he evaded security personnel and reached a forested hideout after fleeing from the premises of Coimbatore Central Prison.
How the Escapes Unfolded
Raghavan's first escape in the current sequence occurred on the evening of 30 October, when he slipped away from Annur police station shortly after being arrested. Officers immediately gave chase and reapprehended him the same day. Later that night, four police personnel — including a sub-inspector — escorted him to Coimbatore Central Prison for remand. While being led into the prison premises, Raghavan allegedly assaulted the escorting officers and fled a second time, triggering a major security alert across the region.
The double escape follows an earlier incident in June 2026, when Raghavan reportedly fled while being transported to Bengaluru — underscoring a pattern of evasion that investigators are now scrutinising closely. This is at least his third known escape attempt, making his custody history a matter of serious concern for Tamil Nadu's prison and police administration.
The Manhunt and Arrest
Following the prison-premises escape, authorities constituted six special teams to locate Raghavan. The search fanned out across Erode and the Nilgiris districts and extended into neighbouring Karnataka and Kerala. Acting on intelligence that placed him in the Sathyamangalam forest region, officers deployed drone cameras to pinpoint his exact location. A team then surrounded the area and arrested him in a nighttime operation.
What Investigators Are Examining
Racecourse police sources said interrogators are focused on two key questions: whether Raghavan received any outside assistance during his escape and subsequent movements, and how he managed to travel significant distances despite being under escort. His statement has already been recorded; further questioning is underway to reconstruct the precise sequence of events.
Raghavan is a resident of the Sri Lankan Tamil Rehabilitation Centre at Bhavanisagar in Erode district and faces several criminal cases, including robbery and theft. Investigators are also examining the circumstances that allowed him to repeatedly breach custody despite active police escorts.
Action Against Police Personnel
The twin escapes prompted swift departmental action. All four escorting police personnel, including the sub-inspector on duty, were suspended for alleged negligence. A separate case has also been registered in connection with the escape from the prison premises — a rare step that signals the seriousness with which the administration is treating the lapse.
What Happens Next
Police are expected to produce Raghavan before the jurisdictional court upon completion of interrogation. Authorities have indicated that arrangements will be made for his detention under enhanced security protocols to prevent a further escape. The incident is also likely to prompt a broader review of escort and remand procedures at Coimbatore Central Prison.
Point of View
But it does not answer the structural question: why was someone with a prior June 2026 escape on record escorted by a standard four-person team without additional safeguards? Tamil Nadu's prison administration will need to look beyond individual blame and audit its risk-classification framework for remand prisoners with active escape histories.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Raghavan, the Coimbatore prisoner who escaped twice?
Raghavan, also known as Kozikaran, is a 25-year-old remand prisoner and resident of the Sri Lankan Tamil Rehabilitation Centre at Bhavanisagar in Erode district. He faces multiple criminal cases including robbery and theft, and has a documented history of escaping from police custody, with at least three known escape attempts.
How did Raghavan escape from Coimbatore Central Prison?
On the night of 30 October, while being escorted to Coimbatore Central Prison for remand, Raghavan allegedly assaulted the four accompanying police personnel — including a sub-inspector — at the prison premises and fled. This was his second escape that evening; he had earlier slipped away from Annur police station and been briefly recaptured.
How was Raghavan caught after escaping into Sathyamangalam forest?
Authorities deployed six special teams and extended the search to Erode, the Nilgiris, and parts of Karnataka and Kerala. Acting on intelligence that he was hiding in the Sathyamangalam forest area, police deployed drone cameras to pinpoint his location and arrested him in a nighttime operation.
What action has been taken against the police personnel involved?
All four escorting police personnel, including a sub-inspector, were suspended for alleged negligence. A separate case has also been registered in connection with the escape from the prison premises.
What happens next in Raghavan's case?
Coimbatore police are expected to produce Raghavan before the jurisdictional court after completing interrogation. He is set to be held under enhanced security protocols to prevent another escape, and investigators continue to probe whether he received outside assistance during his escape and movements.
