Four young women aged between 18 and 20 have accused one Raj Prashant Thakur of sex ual assault, while two other individuals claim to have been cheated of more than Rs 20 lakh each. Despite three police complaints filed across Goa, the ac cused continues to evade arrest, leaving victims ter rified and locals outraged at the lack of police action. Thakur reportedly boasts of political connections in Goa and outside the state, claiming to be related to BJP MLA Prashant Thakur of Panvel. Many fear that, like the Rama Kankonkar case, this too may end with out justice. “He claims that he is relat ed to Prashant Thakur, the BJP MLA of Panvel, and that he knows members of the government in Goa. He told me he didn’t care if I filed a police complaint. In fact, he threatened to put me in jail,” said Janice* (name changed), her voice shaking. When O Heraldo con tacted Panvel MLA Prashant Thakur’s office, his PA clari fied, “My boss has two children, and his son’s name is Amogh. He is abroad. Can you share the picture of this Thakur?”
After seeing the photo, the MLA’s secretary categorically stated, “This man has no connection to us. He is misusing the name.” According to documents and testimonies obtained by O Heraldo, the first rape complaint against Thakur — whose real identity victims believe may be different — was filed at Marcel Police Station in 2018. “He took me out of Goa on the pretext of some work and, against my will, raped me in a lodge. He continued to as sault me after we returned to Goa until I finally found the courage to run away,” Janice recounted through tears. Another survivor, Greta*, said she met Thakur while searching for a job. “He employed me as a delivery agent, sending me with cash and gold to different places in India. There were other girls working for him too,” she said. Greta alleged that he kept her in a rented house and would only return in the early mornings. “He used to frighten the police by saying he was Thakur’s son,” she added. With her parents’ support, she lodged a complaint at Mardol Police Station in July 2024. Thakur is also accused of defrauding people by prom ising government jobs, posing as a real estate agent, and offering to double investments. “He kept opening and shut ting offices,” said Suraya*, who says her life was shattered at 20. Jyoti Kambli from Cuncolim claims she lost over Rs 25 lakh to Thakur — Rs 15 lakh through cheque and the rest in cash. “He promised to help me get a big loan and kept de manding money as advance interest. Then he said his un cle — a BJP politician — had shut shop and that he would repay me before Diwali. Now he has disappeared with my money,” said a distraught Kambli, who plans to file a formal complaint. Meanwhile, the Goa Police’s slow response has sparked public anger. Priest and professor Fr Bolmax Pereira has joined others in demanding accountability. “The last victim told the Ma pusa Police Inspector that the accused boasted of his con nections with bigwigs, including the CM. After the Rama incident, we expect the CM to demand a thorough inves tigation because his name is being used,” said Fr Pereira. No FIR was registered after the latest complaint filed at Mapusa Police Station on October 10, 2025. Instead, the case was transferred to Margao Police Station as the al leged incident occurred within its jurisdiction. “We cannot register an FIR unless the victim personally comes to the station,” said Margao Police Inspector Suraj Sawant. According to sources, the victim visited the Margao sta tion that evening. She and her father were later escorted by the PI to the location where the accused allegedly filmed her in a compromising position. “Investigations have be gun,” the source added. (Names have been changed to protect the identities of the survivors)
