Notorious Jailbreak Accused Raja Sahani Arrested in Rishikesh After Six-Month Manhunt

Bhubaneswar: In a major breakthrough, the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate has arrested notorious criminal Subham alias Raja Sahani (39) from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, ending a six-month-long inter-state manhunt.

Sahani, a native of Lohiyanagar village under Muffasil police station in Begusarai district of Bihar, had escaped from Choudwar Circle Jail in Cuttack on the night of October 3, 2025, along with co-accused Madhukanta Kumar Rana alias Singh. He was the second fugitive from the jailbreak to be apprehended.

According to police, Sahani was wanted in multiple serious criminal cases, including dacoity with murder and illegal possession of arms. He had originally been lodged in jail in connection with a case registered at Panikoili police station in Jajpur district. The jailbreak came to light the following morning, prompting Choudwar police to register a case.

A special team was constituted under the supervision of the Director General of Police, Odisha, and the Commissioner of Police of the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate. The team carried out extensive operations and gathered intelligence across several states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Assam, Nagaland, Delhi, and Uttarakhand.

Despite Sahani’s efforts to evade arrest by frequently changing locations, identities, and avoiding electronic surveillance, sustained technical and human intelligence helped trace him to Rishikesh. A police team led by Sub-Inspector Sankarsen Pradhan of Lalbag police station, with assistance from local police units of Rishikesh and Muni ki Reti, arrested him near Natraj Chowk on April 1, 2026.

Investigations revealed that Sahani had been living under fake identities such as Kamlesh Pandey and Subham. After escaping from jail, he travelled across multiple states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Mysuru. He was also wanted by Karnataka Police in connection with an armed dacoity case registered in Hunsur, Mysuru.

Following his arrest, Sahani was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Rishikesh, and transit remand was obtained to bring him back to Cuttack.

Police are continuing further investigations to identify individuals who may have provided shelter or assistance to the accused during his time on the run. With this arrest, both fugitives involved in the Choudwar jailbreak have now been brought to justice.

Officials have lauded the coordinated efforts of multiple police teams and the cooperation extended by various state police forces in successfully tracking down and apprehending the accused.