Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a significant breakthrough, the Panaji Town Police have successfully solved a gold theft case and recovered stolen property worth Rs. 3.6 lakh. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by Shri Rajesh Shirodkar, a 50-year-old resident of PDA Colony, Porvorim. He reported that on two separate occasions—26th March 2025 and 1st April 2025—an unknown person stole gold ornaments from his shop, located at Shop No. 6, Alfred Apartments, Kerant, Caranzalem. The stolen items included three gold chains weighing 10.800 grams, 7.08 grams, and 18.020 grams respectively, collectively valued at Rs. 3,60,000. Accordingly, Crime No. 62/2025 was registered under Section 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
During the investigation, CCTV footage from the shop and additional surveillance from the Smart City network were meticulously analyzed. With the help of local intelligence and sustained efforts, the police identified and apprehended the accused, Suraj Dodamani, 24 years old, originally from Kabalakatti, Gadag district in Karnataka and currently residing at Narele Morod, Caranzalem. Upon interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime, leading to the recovery of the stolen gold chains in full.
The operation was carried out by a dedicated team led by PI Panaji Shri Vijaykumar Chodankar and PSI Mahadev D. Pednekar, along with HC-5151 Nitin Gaonkar, PC-5918 Ermiya Gurayya Balbhadra, PC-7816 Aditya Mardolkar, and PC-8645 Minesh Naik. The entire investigation was conducted under the supervision of SDPO Panaji Shri Sudesh R. Naik and SP North Shri Akshat Kaushal, IPS. The swift action and coordinated efforts of the Panaji Police have been widely appreciated, reinforcing public trust in law enforcement.
