PANAJI
The North Goa Police have arrested a “serial bluff master” with a history of nine criminal cases in Maharashtra, along with four associates, for allegedly impersonating representatives of Muthoot Finance and robbing unsuspecting targets.
According to Superintendent of Police (North) Akshat Kaushal, the case unfolded after Reshma Ogale, a resident of Ucassaim lodged a complaint with the local police station that at around 4.35 pm on January 21, an unidentified man approached her, pretending to be an employee of Muthoot Finance, and convinced her to hand over Rs 1 lakh in exchange for gold. When she realised the scam and resisted, the accused used force and fled the scene.
“Given the nature of the crime, a special investigation team was formed at Mapusa Police Station under the leadership of PI Nikhil Palekar, with assistance from other officers. The team analysed CCTV footage and criminal dossiers, eventually identifying and arresting the culprits,” Kaushal said.
The team arrested the gang leader, Manish Ambekar, 47, who has nine cases registered in different police stations in Maharashtra from 2018-2023. The other arrested accused are identified as Shivam Ambekar (24), Ravi Chavan (42), Karan Chavan (20), and Yash Chavan (20), all hailing from Raigad, Maharashtra.
The SP said that the SIT recovered Rs 59,500 cash, mobile phones and a Maharashtra-registered jeep used in the crime.
