Cuttack: An accused in a theft case who had escaped from police custody and jumped into Mahanadi River here yesterday, his body was found near Jobra barrage today.

The identity of the body will be confirmed only after the family members of the deceased identify it.

According to reports, an accused identified as Shankarshan Behera alias Babul was detained by police in theft case on Friday. However, he escaped from the Cantonment Police Station in Cuttack and jumped into the Mahanadi River to evade arrest.

Today morning, one body was found floating in the river near Jobra barrage. Though, the body is said to be that of Shankarshan Behera, the police said that it will be clear only when the family members identify it.

Media reports said that Bidanasi police had picked up Shankarshan, who was running a fast-food shop in Bhubaneswar, on July 19 in a theft case. The police had seized an LCD TV and gas cylinder from him. He was handed over to the Cantonment Police following detention.

However, the accused reportedly jumped into the Mahanadi River after fleeing from the police custody. The firefighters had tried to search him in the water body but failed to trace him.