A prisoner from Nellore jail in Andhra Pradesh escaped from Coimbatore Railway Junction late on Tuesday. He was brought to be produced before the Coimbatore district court.

The accused, Dhinathayalan, with his wife Priyadarshani had earlier lived in a Tirupur where they worked in a textile shop. On a complaint by the shop owner that Rs 30,000 had been stolen from the shop, city police had arrested the couple.

On being granted bail by the district court, the two absconded and left for Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh where they were working in a private firm. However, there too they were involved in a laptop theft and were arrested by the Nellore police.

After nine months in jail there, the couple was brought to Coimbatore by train in connection with the Tirupur theft case. They were accompanied by three railway police personnel.

On reaching Coimbatore, Dhinathayalan went to the toilet and escaped, according to police. His wife is in custody at the Coimbatore Railway police station. Railway officials said an inquiry into the incident was on.