B Surya (30) of Palasa area in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh was in the district session court here for hearing when he tried to cut his throat with a blade that he was carrying, police said.
Surya, who had been in jail for the last about 19 months in connection with a murder case, was immediately taken to a local hospital where his condition was stated to be stable, they said.
The reason behind this step was yet to be ascertained and investigation was in progress, police said, adding that two other accused in the case were on bail while Surya had been in jail.