PATNA: A Bihar MLA from the ruling JD(U) allegedly helped her husband escape from police custody in Purnia district.Bima Bharti, JD(U)’s Rupauli MLA, along with JD(U) Purnia MP Santosh Kushwaha helped her husband Awadhesh Mandal escape from the police station within hours of his arrest on Sunday. Bharti is a former minister.Mandal has nearly 100 criminal cases lodged against him.Police sources said that Mandal was arrested after he reportedly threatened the widow and two children of Chanchal Paswan over deposing against him in court. Mandal is accused of murdering Chanchal in 2005.Paswan Tola residents attacked Mandal after that following which police arrested him. Soon after the arrest, Bharti and Kushwaha arrived at Maranga police station around 8.30pm with more than 150 supporters. Mandal’s handcuffs unlocked as he wanted to lodge an FIR against the attack on him.While Kushwaha was talking to police officials in the station about the arrest, Bharti remained inside her white SUV with two armed guards in front of the police station building, sources said. Mandal suddenly jumped into the MLA’s vehicle which then sped towards Harda. Soon Kushwaha also left.Sources said the district administration had sent reinforcements sensing trouble but Mandal fled before they could reach the police station.Reports said police teams in several vehicles chased the MLA’s SUV but failed to intercept it. They also put certain cellphones on surveillance and learnt that the MLA and her guards were constantly changing locations. Police raided several places throughout the night but in vain.ADG (HQ) Sunil Kumar said in Patna a probe has been initiated. A fresh FIR has also been lodged against Mandal.The probe would make it clear who all helped him escape and action would be taken accordingly, Kumar said, adding that Maranga police station SHO Shiv Shankar has been suspended for dereliction of duty.Purnia SP Nishant Tiwary on Monday said Mandal would be re-arrested soon.The Purnia district administration had booked Mandal under the Crime Control Act during the recent assembly election in the state. He was asked to mark his presence at a police station everyday. The cases against him include those of murder and dacoity.