The investigation into the Porvorim shootout has taken a new turn, with sources indicating that five people may have been involved in the attack and that the shooters allegedly used vehicles fitted with fake Goa number plates to evade detection.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed the Goa Assembly on Monday that the case has been transferred to the Crime Branch, following a demand raised by Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai.

According to sources, CCTV footage shows two persons approaching Srinivas Naik before the shooting. However, investigators believe the operation involved a larger group, with six suspects arriving in two separate vehicles — a scooter and a car.

Both vehicles were reportedly parked outside Majestic Hotel when the shooting took place. The two shooters allegedly fled on foot immediately after the attack, crossed the highway and reached the waiting vehicles before escaping towards Panaji.

Investigators suspect the vehicles belonged to another state and had been fitted with fake Goa registration plates, complicating efforts to track them.

Five police teams are currently working to identify and trace those involved in the attack.

The case was raised in the Assembly by Sardesai, who demanded a Crime Branch probe. The Chief Minister subsequently confirmed that the investigation had been handed over to the specialised agency.