Panaji coastal security police have arrested Gagan Deep, a 32-year-old from Chikballapur, Karnataka, accused of defrauding a Bengaluru charitable trust of Rs 6.3 crore. The suspect, who escaped custody during a casino visit tied to the investigation, was tracked to a farm in Dodamarg and brought back to Goa. This recapture highlights the challenges of securing high-value fugitives across state lines in fraud probes.

The Impersonation Scam Unravels

Gagan Deep first came under scrutiny when Bengaluru police arrested him on March 31 for posing as an official from a multinational company. He allegedly swindled Rs 6.3 crore from a charitable trust in Bengaluru, channeling some funds to Goa casinos. On April 3, escorting officers brought him to a casino to recover spent proceeds, a step that exposed vulnerabilities in transit custody.

Escape in the Crowd

That night, on April 4, Deep exploited the casino's crowded premises. He pushed past the escorting officers and fled, prompting an immediate FIR by Panaji coastal security police under BNS provisions, based on a complaint from Devanahalli police inspector Rakesh C. Investigators combined human intelligence with technical surveillance to trace his movements beyond Goa borders.

Swift Recapture and Handover

A team led by PI Sajith Pillai, with ASI Carlos Pontes, HC Suryakant Bordekar, PC Laxman Kauthankar, and PC Rajesh Mardolkar—under SP Roy P Pereira—located Deep at an eco-farm in Dodamarg. Now in custody in Goa, he faces handover to Bengaluru police for deeper inquiry into the fraud network. Such cases underscore the need for tighter protocols during evidence recovery in public venues, where fugitives can blend into transient environments like casinos, complicating interstate law enforcement.