MAPUSA
Goa Police have arrested a suspect in the murder of Arnoldo Soares, a senior citizen from Candolim, thanks to crucial evidence captured by a dash camera in the victim’s car.
The footage, which recorded the alleged accused using the car to escape, played a pivotal role in identifying and apprehending the suspect.
The police used the dash camera footage to identify Arvind Raju Pawar, also known as Parshu, a 20-year-old originally from Karnataka but residing in Orda, Candolim.
Technical surveillance, including tracking the accused’s mobile phone, further aided the investigation.
During a press conference at Calangute Police Station, Akshat Kaushal, Superintendent of Police for North Goa, provided an update on the case.
“Initial inquiries suggest robbery as a motive, but we are exploring all possibilities. Money was a motive, but we cannot say it was the sole motive. We are examining the crime from all angles,” Kaushal stated.
Kaushal indicated that the crime appeared to be premeditated. “We found certain things at the scene that suggest it was a premeditated crime, but it is still early to say anything with certainty.”
The police revealed that Pawar was familiar with the victim and the layout of his property. “For the last couple of years, he had been doing gardening work around the house. He knew the geography of the place and the architecture of the house. He knew where the victim used to stay and what time he used to sleep,” the SP explained.
Forensic investigations have confirmed that a sharp weapon was used in the crime, although the police have yet to recover the weapon. The police are also investigating whether Pawar acted alone or had accomplices. “We are verifying if the accused was alone or if there were more accomplices. Some more persons are also being interrogated,” Kaushal added.
The court has granted a one-day police remand for Pawar, but the police plan to request an extension on Thursday to continue their investigation.
Kaushal praised the efforts of the special team led by Porvorim DySP Vishvesh Karpe, which was instrumental in solving the case. The team was supported by Police Inspectors Rahul Parab, Somnath Majik, and Paresh Naik.
