Durairaj, one of the six accused in a rape and murder case, jumped from the first floor of the district court complex in Coimbatore fearing verdict, police officials said. The accused, however, escaped without any injuries.

The incident occurred after the trail, for the rape and murder that took place in Sulur in January 2002, was posted for Friday at the Mahila court.

As all the accused were being taken back out of the court to the central prison, Durairaj escaped the clutches of the policemen and jumped from a height of about 40 feet.

The policemen immediately rushed to the ground floor, seized him and rushed him to the nearby government hospital.

After medical reports showed Durairaj didn't suffer any injuries, the police took him back to the central prison.