PANAJI: Pernem Police have arrested a third accused in a daytime house burglary case, tightening the net around an organised house-breaking network operating across North Goa. The arrest was made in connection with Cr. No. 02/2026 registered under Sections 331(3) and 305(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Pernem Police Station.
The case was registered on the complaint of Nilima Gawde (56), a resident of Tuem, Pernem, who reported that her house was broken into on February 5, 2025, while she was away, and a gold mangalsutra weighing about 42 grams, valued at approximately ₹4.5 lakh, was stolen.
Based on technical analysis and ground intelligence, police arrested Tejesh Gurav (28), a native of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, currently residing in Pernem, on January 7, 2026. Investigations revealed that Gurav is a close associate of prime accused Rohan Mahadev Padwal and Jagannath alias Ketan Sanjay Bagkar, who were earlier arrested in a related case.
Police said the accused are habitual offenders involved in multiple daytime house-breaking and theft cases in Pernem, Dhargal, Virnoda, Tuem and Korgao. In the connected cases, stolen gold and silver ornaments worth around ₹17.56 lakh were recovered. With further seizures, the total recovery in the case has reached approximately ₹71.24 lakh so far.
The accused has been produced before the JMFC, Pernem, and police custody has been sought for further investigation. The probe is being conducted under the supervision of senior police officers, and further investigation is underway.
