Panaji Police Arrest Escaped Bengaluru Fraud Suspect in Rs 6.3 Crore Case

Panaji coastal security police have arrested Gagan Deep, a 32-year-old man from Chikballapur, Karnataka, accused of defrauding a Bengaluru charitable trust of Rs 6.3 crore. Deep escaped custody on April 4 while Bengaluru officers escorted him through a crowded Goa casino to recover spent proceeds. His capture from a Dodamarg farm underscores the challenges of securing suspects amid high-tourism environments and the value of coordinated surveillance.

The Impersonation Scheme Unravels

Gagan Deep posed as an official from a multinational company to deceive the Bengaluru-based charitable trust. Authorities arrested him on March 31 after the trust reported the massive loss. Bengaluru police then transported him to Goa on April 3, targeting funds he had spent at a casino, a common trail in financial crime probes where illicit gains fuel gambling.

Daring Break from Casino Custody

Inside the casino premises that night, Deep exploited the dense crowd. He shoved escorting officers and slipped away, vanishing into the night. Such escapes expose vulnerabilities in custodial logistics during off-site investigations, particularly in entertainment venues that attract large, transient crowds and complicate containment.

Targeted Pursuit Leads to Capture

Panaji coastal security police, acting on a complaint from Devanahalli inspector Rakesh C, filed an FIR under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions. Teams under PI Sajith Pillai, with ASI Carlos Pontes, HC Suryakant Bordekar, PC Laxman Kauthankar, and PC Rajesh Mardolkar—supervised by SP Roy P Pereira—combined human intelligence and technical surveillance. They tracked Deep to an eco-farm in Dodamarg and apprehended him without incident.

Handover Signals Ongoing Probe

Police returned Deep to Goa for custody before transferring him to Bengaluru authorities for deeper investigation. This case reveals patterns in cross-state frauds, where perpetrators launder funds through tourism hubs like Goa. Effective recapture bolsters faith in multi-jurisdictional efforts to curb economic crimes that erode trust in institutions.