A man accused of raping and murdering a 6-year-old girl in 2023 escaped on Monday when he was brought to Bhiwandi court in Thane district of Maharashtra for a hearing, a police official said, reported the PTI.

The accused, identified as Salamat Ansari, had allegedly raped and murdered the girl and then hid her body in a bucket in a closed room in 2023, and he was held in the case on September 20 that year from Bihar, the official said.

"Today, Ansari was brought from Thane jail to Bhiwandi court under police escort for a hearing. He escaped from the court premises soon after," the official said, according to the PTI.