Goa Crime Branch Refutes Fugitive Shooter’s ‘Staged Attack’ Claim

On Sunday the Goa Crime Branch officially brushed aside a video that surfaced online from a fugitive allegedly involved in the Porvorim gun‑fire incident. In the clip, the suspect – who remains on the run – claimed the August 28 attack on Shrinivas Nayak, the director of the Majestic Pride Group, was nothing more than a set‑up.

Police, however, were quick to label the message a classic diversion. “Accused generally resort to such tactics to divert the attention of investigative agencies. A fair and impartial investigation is in progress,” the department said in a statement that, frankly, read like a textbook response.

In the shaky video, the shooter – whose identity was not disclosed – tried to paint Nayak as the mastermind behind a pre‑planned shooting. He alleged that before the gun‑battle began, he was told neither he nor the casino boss would be harmed, and that the bodyguards’ return fire missed him because, supposedly, blank rounds were being used. The man even hinted that contract killers were hunting him, and said he’d be ready to surrender before a court to set the record straight.

Meanwhile, the police have a reason to feel a little less rattled. In a joint operation with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force, officers nabbed one of the alleged shooters, identified as Babu, 35‑year‑old, near the Indo‑Nepal border in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh. He was caught just as he was about to slip into Nepal and has since been handed over to Goa police for a four‑day custody stint.

The official press note went on to explain that Babu, a resident of Buddha Purva in Bahraich, was arrested with “the assistance of UP STF from the Nepal border.” The statement added that a search for the second gunman is still on, and that the absentee has been the one circulating the controversial video.

Earlier in the investigation, three other suspects – Qazu Sheikh, Israr Ali and Suraj – were detained in Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh for allegedly providing logistical support and planning the assault. The case, originally logged as an attempt to murder at the Porvorim police station, was later shifted to the Crime Branch after the state’s law‑and‑order climate came under heavy political scrutiny.

So, while the man behind the camera tries to spin a narrative of a “staged” hit, the police are marching on, piecing together evidence and rounding up the remaining culprits. Whether the video will cause any real disruption remains to be seen, but for now, the official line is clear: it’s just another distraction in an already complex investigation.