PANAJI
Six months after the daring robbery at the bungalow of an influential business family at Dona Paula, Goa police on Thursday announced a breakthrough with the first arrest -- an Uttar Pradesh native, with criminal history. However, the main accused and other gang members remain at large.
The accused is identified as Mahmmod Ali, a resident of Calangute and native of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The accused, 46, has criminal history with an attempted murder case registered against him. JMFC Panaji has remanded him to five days police custody.
North Goa Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta said the arrest comes after an extensive investigation and coordination between the district police and the Crime Branch. “Technical analysis helped identify the accused,” he said.
Investigations revealed that Ali had close links with the main accused and had assisted in identifying the target house, planning the offence, and providing shelter to the suspects before and after the crime.
Gupta added that the accused has a criminal history and was earlier arrested in a Vasco police case under sections related to attempt to murder, dacoity, and the Arms Act. He had also served time in Colvale Central Jail, where he came in contact with the main accused in the present case.
“Ali had close links with the main accused, assisted in identifying the target house and executing the offence and also later harboured the accused before and after the crime,” Gupta said adding that further investigation is on.
The incident, which took place in the early hours of April 20, saw three to five masked men armed with knives break into the couple’s bungalow at Dempo Vista after overpowering the security guard. The intruders tied up 77-year-old Jaiprakash Dempo and his 71-year-old wife Padmini, ransacked the house, and escaped with cash and jewellery worth several lakhs.
Police said the robbers also removed the CCTV DVR, indicating a well-planned and professional operation.
Following the incident, Panaji Police and the Crime Branch had launched parallel investigations, collecting fingerprints and examining footage from nearby establishments, but most entry and exit routes were found to be blind spots. Police had not ruled out the involvement of an organized international gang known for targeting high-end residential areas.
