B’luru man accused of Rs 6.3cr fraud held at Dodamarg farm

Panaji: Panaji coastal security police have managed to arrest a Bengaluru man accused in a Rs 6.3 crore fraud case in Karnataka, who had earlier escaped from custody. The accused Gagan Deep, 32, was found to have spent some of the defrauded money in Goa and managed to escape custody when Bengaluru police had brought him to the casino as part of the investigations.

Gagan Deep N was later held by the police from a farm in Dodamarg and brought to Goa.

The accused, a native of Chikballapur, Karnataka, was first arrested by Bengaluru police on March 31 this year for allegedly defrauding a Bengaluru-based charitable trust of approximately Rs 6.3 crore. Deep had impersonated himself as an official of a reputed multinational company.

Subsequently, he had been brought to Goa by Bengaluru police on April 3 for recovery of a portion of the defrauded amount reportedly spent at a casino. On the night of April 4, while inside the casino premises, he took advantage of the crowded environment, pushed the escorting officers, and managed to escape.

Based on a complaint lodged by police inspector Rakesh C of Devanahalli police station, Panaji coastal security police registered an FIR under relevant provisions of BNS.

An investigation was initiated, using both human intelligence and technical surveillance. The accused was later traced to Dodamarg and apprehended from an eco-farm location. He has since been brought to Goa and placed under arrest.

The accused will be handed over to Bengaluru police, who are in the process of taking custody for further investigation.

The operation was led by PI Sajith Pillai of Panaji coastal security police station, along with ASI Carlos Pontes, HC Suryakant Bordekar, PC Laxman Kauthankar, and PC Rajesh Mardolkar, under the supervision of SP Roy Pereira.