PANAJI: In a breakthrough against a local extortion racket, Bicholim Police have arrested Salman Khan (26), a resident of Corlim, and Maksud Khan (29), a resident of Ponda, for allegedly restraining a man and demanding Rs 10 lakh from him. The accused duo reportedly fled the spot after the complainant alerted police, but were later traced and arrested.
Addressing a press conference today, North Goa Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta said that the arrests are linked to a larger gang operating across multiple locations in North Goa. “We registered two FIRs and arrested five people. This is the same gang. They all work together,” Gupta stated.
The first case traces back to a complaint filed earlier this year, on February 2, by a construction contractor, who alleged that he was intercepted by a group of men and forced to pay Rs 1 lakh under threats to his life. The FIR in that case was registered at the Porvorim Police Station.
The complainant named Tarzan Parsekar, Sagar Patil, and three unknown persons in his statement. During the investigation, police linked this gang to a second extortion attempt that took place on June 8 in Bicholim. In that incident, two victims were stopped by a black car and a motorcycle, and similarly threatened by a group of 4–5 individuals demanding money.
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.
He further revealed that Tarzan Parsekar is a history-sheeter and was previously arrested in nine different cases, including an attempt to murder case in Anjuna (FIR 161/22 under Section 307). His bail, along with that of co-accused Sagar Patil, was cancelled by the High Court in 2024 after they failed to appear in court and reportedly absconded to Nepal.
The final arrest operation involved joint efforts by teams from Pernem, Porvorim, and Bicholim police stations. "Our teams searched relentlessly for over 12 hours after receiving leads that the accused were hiding in Pernem. They attempted to flee but were captured after a hot pursuit," said Gupta.
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.
