Police say arrests linked to larger gang operating in North Goa
The police team which busted the gang allegedly involved in extortion cases.
PORVORIM
The Goa police have arrested a five-member gang involved in extortion cases at Porvorim and Bicholim. Addressing a news conference on Monday, North Goa Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta said the arrests are linked to a larger gang operating across multiple locations in North Goa.
“We registered two FIRs and arrested five persons. This is the same gang. They all work together,” SP Gupta stated.
PORVORIM CASE
SP Gupta said in the first case, Avinash Shinde had complained to Porvorim police on June 9, stating that the history-sheeter Tarzan Parsekar from Nagoa–Bardez, Sagar Patil and Sanish Ghatwal had blocked his way near Savlem lake at Pilerne on June 8 at around 1.30 pm, while he was proceeding towards his residence.
They are alleged to have threatened to kill him if an extortion amount of Rs 1 lakh was not paid to them. The accused had previously extorted an amount of Rs 1 lakh from him by threatening him with dire consequences on different occasions.
SP Gupta further mentioned that High Court of Bombay at Goa had cancelled the bail of Tarzan Parsekar and Sagar Patil in March 2024 and since then, these two persons were absconding and always on the run.
In all, 9 criminal cases have been registered against Tarzan Parsekar in various police stations in Bardez and three cases against Sagar Patil.
Based on the reliable information, Porvorim Police with the assistance of Pernem Police raided a house at Pernem on Sunday and nabbed the three culprits on the first floor. The accused made efforts to escape by running over the terrace of the house which resulted in a scuffle. However, a police team managed to detain the accused, said SP Gupta.
BICHOLIM CASE
SP Gupta said a similar incident of criminal conspiracy and extortion case was reported at the Bicholim Police Station on Saturday at 8.30 pm when the complainant, Muaaz Shaikh from Keri and his uncle, Abbas Karol from Sankhali, were wrongfully restrained while they were travelling in their car on June 8 at 10.10 pm near Adhar Hospital in Karapur-Sanquelim.
The accused, identified as Salman, along with three unknown occupants and one more accused riding a motorcycle had threatened the complainant’s uncle with dire consequences and demanded a ransom of Rs 10 lakh.
The accused had fled the scene on realising that the victim had dialled the 112 emergency helpline.
Soon after the complaint, two accused, Salman Ruwabali Khan (26) of Corlim and Maksud Azad Khan (29) of Bhoma were apprehended at Bicholim, based on details of their vehicles used and were arrested on Saturday night.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to their involvement in the crime and disclosed that they had stopped the car to extort Rs 10 lakh from Abbas Karol.
Furthermore, they revealed the name of the third accused, Siddharth, who had provided them with information regarding Abbas Karol’s travel route from Sanquelim to Mayem.
Both arrested accused persons were produced before the JMFC at Bicholim and have been remanded to four days in police custody for further investigation, said Gupta.
SP Gupta said police apprehended Salman and Maksud Khan first, and their interrogation led to the arrest of three more accused, Tarzan Parsekar, Sagar Patil, and Sanish Ghatwal.
"This is one gang working together. Two FIRs were registered, and all five persons have now been arrested. It is a major achievement for the district police," Gupta said.
The accused have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 126(2), 308(5), 351, and 352, along with Sections 3–5 for extortion and intimidation.
