Kozhikode (Kerala) | A 26-year-old man, accused in a murder case, who had escaped from a mental health centre here three months ago, was nabbed from Mumbai on Saturday, police said.

Vineesh Vinod of Muttungal, accused of the Drishya murder case, reported in Malappuram district, escaped from the Kuthiravattom Government Mental Health Centre by making a hole in a toilet wall in December last year, they added.

Vinod has been booked for stabbing to death Drishya (21) of Elamkulam near Perinthalmanna in January 2021 after the woman rejected his love proposal.

He had also allegedly set fire to the stationery shop of Drishya’s father before reaching her house to attack her. Drishya’s sister, Devashree, who tried to save her, was also allegedly attacked by the accused.

After Vinod escaped from the mental health centre last December, police had formed a special team to track him down.

He had earlier escaped from the same facility a few years ago but was caught within days.

Based on information that Vinod was seen at a railway station in Mumbai, local police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials were alerted. They identified Vinod and took him into custody, a Kozhikode City Police officer said.

A police team from Kozhikode has left for Mumbai to bring Vinod back to the state.

He is expected to be brought to Kozhikode on Sunday, they said.