Colvale Police cracked the sensational Pirna murder case within 15 hours of it being reported, apprehending the main accused, while a search is underway to trace his accomplices.
According to the police, on 31st October 2025, a call was received around 8:30 a.m. informing that a man was found lying by the roadside in a hilly area of Cansa-Thivim. Upon reaching the spot, police found a male aged around 25–30 years wearing a grey T-shirt and blue jeans, lying motionless about 3 meters off the road. The body bore multiple facial injuries, swelling, and abrasions on both hands. A PAN card bearing the name Deepak Thakur was recovered from his pocket along with an empty alcohol bottle.
The man was shifted to the District Hospital, Mapusa, where he was declared brought dead.
Later, one Shrinivas Singh (46), a resident of Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, approached the Colvale Police Station stating that his 19-year-old son Kapil Chaudhary had gone missing after travelling to Goa. He said his son’s mobile phone was switched off and its last location showed Thivim. The description matched the deceased, and Singh later identified the body as that of his son. A murder complaint was filed against unknown persons for killing his son and taking away his belongings, including his mobile phone and bag.
During investigation, police discovered that the deceased had rented a Thar SUV (GA 03 AH 5254) from Gurudat Lawande (31), a resident of Candolim, on 30th October, using a soft copy of a driving licence in the name of Deepak Thakur. Later that night, Lawande tracked his vehicle crossing the Goa border toward Banda, Maharashtra, and, along with his friends, chased it in a Kia Seltos (GA 06 F 2937).
They eventually intercepted the Thar and Kapil Chaudhary at Kankavali, Maharashtra, and brought both back to Thivim, where they allegedly assaulted him with fists, kicks, and a wooden stick found nearby. Around 11 p.m., they abandoned him injured in the hilly area of Thivim. The group is also accused of placing an empty liquor bottle in his pocket to make it appear that he was drunk.
Following a swift investigation, the main accused, Gurudat Lawande, was detained by PI Nikhil Palekar and his team, during which he confessed to the crime. Efforts are ongoing to locate his associates who remain absconding.
The case is being investigated under the supervision of PI Sanjit Kandolkar (Colvale Police Station) and SDPO Mapusa Wilson D’Souza, under the guidance of SP North Rahul Gupta, IPS.
