Madhya Pradesh prisoner, nicknamed Mr Good who never skipped parole, escapes from jail just 9-months before his 14-year sentence completed

A convict who had repeatedly returned from parole without overstaying even once escaped from Satna Central Jail in Madhya Pradesh with only nine months left on his 14-year sentence, leaving prison officials struggling to understand why he chose to flee just eight days before he was due to go home again.

Acchelal Prajapati, 52, had been serving his sentence for murdering his wife and had remained in prison since October 14, 2014. Known among inmates and prison staff as “Mr Good”, he had been granted parole 15 times since 2022 and had returned from every previous leave on time.

His 16th parole had already been approved when he escaped from a cowshed outside the main boundary of the prison on Tuesday evening.


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A routine toilet break turns into an escape

Prajapati was working at the cowshed when he told a guard that he needed to use the toilet. He then picked up a heavy bucket, apparently on the pretext of using it to wash himself.

Once he moved out of the guard’s direct line of sight, Prajapati turned the bucket upside down and placed it against the perimeter fencing. He used it as a makeshift step to gain enough height to climb over the wire fence before disappearing from the premises.

The guards realised what had happened only after he had escaped.

“What happened is really surprising for all of us. He had only nine months of his sentence left and his parole had already been approved. He was supposed to go home after eight days,” jail superintendent Leena Kosta said on Wednesday.

‘Mr Good’ had a record of good conduct

Prajapati’s escape was particularly unexpected because of his conduct during more than a decade behind bars. Jail officials said he was soft-spoken, obedient and cordial and had never been involved in a quarrel or raised his voice.

He had also been entrusted with work outside the prison’s main premises for about five years without any complaint. Such assignments are generally given to inmates considered well behaved.

According to Kosta, Prajapati had earned Rs 89,000 through prison work over the years but had not withdrawn any of the money.

“He never withdrew it,” Kosta said. “Had he not escaped, he would have been a free man in a few months. If caught now, he will have to serve the remaining term along with any additional sentence for the new offence.”

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Why escape with freedom so close?

The circumstances have left officials questioning what prompted Prajapati to take the risk. He had already been granted parole for the 16th time and was due to leave prison legally within eight days. His previous parole record was clean, with no instances of overstaying.

Prajapati had gone home 15 times since beginning parole in 2022 and had returned every time. His conduct had remained consistent enough for him to be allowed to work outside the main prison complex.

The 52-year-old, who is from Maihar, is single and has no children.

Police launch search after escape

A case has been registered at Kolgawan police station following the escape. Police have searched Prajapati’s house as well as the homes of his relatives as part of efforts to locate him.

The escape has added a new offence to the case of a prisoner who, until Tuesday, had appeared to be progressing towards the end of his sentence without major disciplinary problems.

With only months remaining on his original term and another parole beginning in days, Prajapati’s decision to climb the prison fence has left authorities with a question that the escape itself does not answer: why did a convict who had repeatedly returned from parole choose to run when legal freedom was already within reach?