PANAJI
Ten arrests in the August 28 Porvorim shootout but two-and-a-half months of investigation have failed to answer who really wanted Casino Majestic Director Shrinivas Nayak dead, and what was the reason.
With the 90-day chargesheet deadline drawing closer, the Crime Branch (CB) has arrests to show but no publicly established motive or clarity on who, if anyone, commissioned the attack.
The latest arrest was that of Ravi alias Nikhil Singh, who was arrested from Uttar Pradesh days after businessman Satish Shinde was arrested, and Gopal Naik, who was evading arrest since the shooting, was intercepted at the Collem checkpost.
Naik, who had disguised himself as a sadhu, is said to be one of the prime accused, although no leads have come out further. Two men accompanying him, Sushant Harijan and Ramdas Mirashi, were also arrested, with the CB team still examining whether they helped Naik evade arrest and had any role in the shooting.
Beyond announcing the arrests, however, Goa police have maintained a tight lid on the investigation, offering no information about the suspected conspiracy, the motive or the possible involvement of others.
“We are investigating all angles, including the casino director’s requests for police protection before and after the attack. We are questioning the accused to establish the motive, their movements and links with accomplices. Certain leads have surfaced, but CB is still probing to ascertain allegations. It would be premature to say anything at present,” a senior police officer told The Goan.
The shooting occurred on August 28 evening near the entrance of Casino Majestic, where two armed men allegedly opened fire at Nayak and his security guard. The latter two escaped unhurt. Porvorim police, which initially investigated the case, had stated the assailants waited near the parking area for around an hour before approaching Nayak as he reached his car.
A day after the attack, the police prima facie ruled out an extortion motive and examined the possibility of the attackers being contract killers, including whether they were brought in from outside Goa.
