Team Goemkarponn
VALPOI: In a swift breakthrough, the North Goa Police solved a temple theft case within 16 hours of it being reported.
A suspect was arrested and a portion of the stolen cash was recovered, police officials confirmed.
The incident took place at the Shri Brahmadev Devasthan in Brahmakarmali, Valpoi, where the donation box was found broken open early on Tuesday morning. A complaint lodged by local resident Sagar Sakharam Desai stated that the theft had resulted in a loss of approximately ₹30,000 to ₹40,000. The intruder had also tampered with the temple’s inner sanctum, or garbhakud.
Following the complaint, Valpoi Police registered Cr. No. 34/2025 under Sections 305, 331(3), and 331(4) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
A police team led by **SDPO Bicholim Wilson D’Souza, PI Valpoi Videsh Singh, and PI Bicholim Vijay Rane swiftly launched an investigation. CCTV footage from the temple premises and local intelligence efforts led to the identification of the accused as Vishal alias Vishwas Govind Zarmekar (38), a resident of Nanoda, Sattari.
The suspect had gone into hiding in a forested area near the IRBn camp in Naroda. After an extensive combing operation throughout the day, police traced and arrested him from his residence around 11:30 PM on the same day.
A total of ₹24,250 was recovered from his house. Authorities said further investigation is ongoing to determine the exact amount stolen and whether others were involved.
“This case reflects our commitment to swift justice and the protection of places of worship,” said Superintendent of Police (North Goa), Rahul Gupta, IPS.
