Kundapur: Police have identified a financial dispute and business-related differences as the suspected motive behind the shooting murder of Ivan Richard Mascarenhas (45), a businessman from Kachoor in Barkur, who was gunned down in the early hours of Friday, July 31, near Holy Rosary Church on Church Road in Kundapur.
The accused, identified as Derek, remains absconding, and the police have formed three special teams to trace and arrest him. A case has been registered at the Kundapur Police Station, and further investigation is in progress.
Dispute over pending payments
According to the police, the sequence of events began at around 11.45 pm on July 30, when Derek allegedly telephoned Ivan Richard Mascarenhas regarding pending payments connected to a prawn supply business.
Police said Derek reportedly offered to mediate and help recover the outstanding dues. However, the conversation allegedly turned into a heated argument over financial transactions and other business-related issues.
During the exchange, Derek is alleged to have challenged Ivan to come alone to Kundapur to discuss the matter.
Accused shared location
Investigators said Derek later shared his location with Ivan at around 1.30 am on July 31.
Ivan subsequently drove to the location and parked his car on the concrete road opposite Holy Rosary Church on Church Road in Kundapur.
Police said the meeting was apparently arranged to discuss the pending financial issues, but it ended in a fatal confrontation.
Fatal shooting
According to the investigation, at around 3.15 am, Derek allegedly arrived at the spot in a black-and-red Mahindra Thar SUV and parked in front of Ivan’s vehicle.
As Ivan stepped out of his car, the accused allegedly opened fire with a handgun, shooting him below the waist.
Police said Derek fled the scene immediately after the shooting in the same SUV.
Ivan sustained gunshot injuries to his waist and leg and collapsed on the road. He succumbed to excessive blood loss before medical assistance could reach the scene.
Financial dispute suspected as motive
Preliminary investigations indicate that the murder was the result of financial transactions and other business-related disputes between the accused and the deceased.
Police are examining the business dealings between the two and gathering evidence to establish the exact circumstances that led to the shooting.
Investigators are also verifying the sequence of events through witness statements, technical evidence and other material collected during the probe.
Three special teams formed
Police have constituted three special teams to trace the absconding accused, Derek.
Officials said extensive search operations are under way, and efforts are being made to track his movements and secure his arrest at the earliest.
The investigation is continuing on multiple fronts, including forensic examination of the crime scene and analysis of digital evidence.
Woman accompanying victim identifies accused
Earlier reports indicated that Ivan Richard Mascarenhas was travelling in a car with a woman at the time of the incident.
The woman, who witnessed the shooting, has identified the accused, providing investigators with a crucial lead in the case.
Police believe her statement will play an important role in reconstructing the events leading up to the murder.
Senior officers inspect crime scene
Soon after the incident, senior police officials visited the scene to supervise the investigation.
Among those who inspected the spot were Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar, Additional SP Sudhakar Nayak, DySP H. D. Kulkarni, Kundapur Town Police Inspector Jayaram Gowda, and PSIs Nanja Nayak, Pushpa and Anoop Nayak.
The Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) team also conducted a detailed forensic examination of the area and collected evidence to assist the investigation.
Police said further investigation is under way to establish the complete sequence of events and bring the absconding accused to justice.