Shalaka Gawas, 26, from Sawantwadi has four non-bailable warrants pending against her for offences registered at Agassaim police station. PI Jivba Dalvi said the woman’s modus operandi was to bring gullible women to GMC claiming free medical camps and then flee with their belongings.
“Gawas would take the women to different wards saying free medical check-ups were conducted there. She would then ask them to remove the gold ornaments they wore saying doctors do not allow jewellery during a CT scan. Minutes later, she would disappear with their belongings,” he said.
She continued to trap the women until Wednesday when head constable Roque Pereira and constable Prashant Chopdekar at GMC police outpost tracked her down at GMC and alerted the police station. A team was soon dispatched to arrest Gawas.
Following the arrest, Pernem resident Durga Morajkar filed a complaint that Gawas had conned her of Rs 40,000 jewellery and cash while she was admitted in GMC.
Dalvi said the police team is investigating whether Gawas was involved in similar cases in other hospitals. The stolen gold ornaments which are deposited in a Maharashtra bank to obtain a loan, will be recovered, he said.
