Temple Theft Case Solved by North district Police within 16 hours of reporting – Accused Arrested, Cash Recovered

Temple Theft Case Solved by North district Police within 16 hours of reporting – Accused Arrested, Cash Recovered

Panji :- On 28/05/2025 morning around 7 am a PCR call was received about theft from donation box of Brahmadev Devasthan Valpoi. Later, Shri Sagar S/o Sakharam Desai, a resident of Brahmakarmali, Valpoi, lodged a complaint at Valpoi Police Station stating that an unknown person had broken the lock of the donation box of Shri Brahmadev Devasthan, Brahmakarmali, Valpoi, and committed theft of cash amounting to approximately ₹30,000 to ₹40,000. The accused had also tampered with the garbhakud (inner sanctum) of the temple.

Based on the complaint, Valpoi Police Station registered Cr. No. 34/2025 under sections 305, 331(3), 331(4) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Acting swiftly, a police team scanned CCTV cameras of temple premises. Based on local intelligence accused was identified and apprehended within 16 hours at around 2330 hours of same day. Accused details are Vishal alias Vishwas S/o Govind Zarmekar, age 38 years, resident of Nanoda, Sattari Goa.

Combined team of Subdivision Bicholim led by SDPO Wilson D’Souza, PI Valpoi Videsh Singh and PI Bicholim Vijay Rane worked on this case. Accused was apprehended after an intense combing operation near IRBn camp Naroda lasting whole day. Accused was hiding in forest area for a long time. Later at night was traced at his house.

During the course of investigation, a total of ₹24,250/- in cash was recovered from the house of the accused. North district Police is continuing its investigation to ascertain the total stolen amount and any other involvement.

Issued by:
Rahul Gupta IPS
Superintendent of Police
North Goa District
Goa Police