PANAJI
Goa police claim to have gathered leads in the investigation into Friday evening’s shooting at casino director Shrinivas Nayak and his security guard amid a massive manhunt for the two assailants identified through CCTV footage.
Police have ruled out an extortion motive so far and are examining the possibility of the attackers being contract killers, including whether they were brought in from outside Goa. Director General of Police Alok Kumar said multiple teams were working on the case and were confident of cracking it soon. “Several teams, including from police stations, crime branch and cyber cell, are probing this case. We have got leads, and soon it will be cracked. We are probing all angles,” he said.
Asked specifically whether police suspected an extortion angle, Kumar replied in the negative, stating, “No extortion angle so far.”
The police are now working to establish the identities and movements of the assailants, who were captured on CCTV cameras installed around Casino Paradise, where the shooting took place. Kumar said police were also trying to trace the source of the firearms allegedly used in the attack. An abandoned car bearing a Goa registration number has emerged as another important lead, with the teams examining the vehicle for evidence that could establish the attackers’ movements before and after the shooting. Speaking on the sidelines of a police event at Police Headquarters on Saturday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant directed the police to move swiftly against those involved, warning such attacks would not be tolerated in Goa.
“Such attacks would not be tolerated in Goa. The investigation will soon ascertain both the identity of the attackers and the motive behind the crime. I have asked the DGP to apprehend the accused at the earliest,” Sawant told reporters. He also described Friday’s incident as the first open shootout reported in Goa in about eight years and said the government would take all necessary measures to prevent a recurrence. The DGP meanwhile added that security arrangements had been strengthened ahead of the Assembly session beginning Monday. The shooting occurred on Friday evening near the entrance of Casino Majestic, where two armed men allegedly opened fire at Nayak and his security guard. The police said that the assailants waited near the parking area for around an hour before approaching Nayak as he reached his car. They allegedly opened fire at close range, with three rounds fired by the attackers and another three fired by Nayak’s security personnel in retaliation. Nayak and his security guard escaped the attack unhurt.
Hotel Fidalgo dispute under lens in probe
Police investigating Friday night's firing at Porvorim allegedly targeting Majestic Group director Shrinivas Nayak are examining all possible motives, including business rivalries linked to the long-running Hotel Fidalgo dispute in Panaji.
Dragged into the police probe is Nayak's involvement in the contentious Hotel Fidalgo dispute and litigation in which he represented Golden Peace Hospitality in legal proceedings before the Bombay High Court over rights to the hotel, formerly owned and operated by Maberest Hotels Pvt Ltd with Jayant Shetty as its then Managing Director. In April this year, the High Court had dismissed the company's appeal, holding that it had no legal right, title or interest in the property formerly owned and operated by and making adverse observations on the disputed transaction. Police officials connected to the Porvorim firing investigation, however, were unwilling to specify details other than saying all angles are being probed by interviewing Nayak and examining corroborative evidence.
No evidentially tangible link is there between the firing and the Fidalgo hotel dispute, although all angles, including business rivalry and the possibility of hired shooters, are being investigated, the officials said.
