Gaya: A police officer, arrested on bribery charges on Saturday, escaped from custody on Sunday, leaving the Gaya police brass red-faced.

Chakand police station house officer (SHO) Pawan Kumar was arrested late on Saturday evening by a police team led by Gaya senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajiv Mishra.

The arrest was made following complaints received by the SSP that the SHO released members of a bootlegging gang in exchange of Rs 1.16 lakh.

As per police records, no case was instituted against the gang members despite recovery of India made foreign liquor from their possession.

A panchayat-level leader allegedly brokered the deal between the SHO and the criminals.

Following the complaints he received, SSP Mishra raided the police station - around 85.5 km south of Patna - and inquired into the charges against the SHO.

The SSP found the charges to be true.

Thereafter, a search operation was conducted and the police team recovered Rs 1.16 lakh from the SHO's possession.

The SHO was arrested and brought to Gaya for further questioning and remand under judicial custody.

He was confined in the office of the deputy superintendent of police, law and order.

Soon after, the SHO escaped.

Confirming the sequence of events, SSP Mishra said a man hunt has been launched to nab the absconding SHO.

Asked whether the SHO escaped in connivance with his fellow cops who were entrusted with his custody, the SSP said it was a matter of investigation and that a case in this connection has been instituted.

The SSP, however, did not give details of what sections the escape case has been filed.

Responsibility will be fixed and cops found negligent/conniving would be adequately punished, the SSP promised.