Vikram hired gunmen to shoot him; four arrested

In a case of life imitating art, politician Vikram Goud, allegedly staged an attack against himself like in the Mahesh Babu starrer Athadu.

West Zone police arrested four persons from different places in AP and Karnataka on Tuesday in connection with the shooting of former minister Mukesh Goud’s son, Vivek, who claimed that he was shot at in his Banjara Hills home last Friday.

Police are convinced that Mr Vivek Goud arranged for the shooters through a friend and got them to stage the incident so that he could escape mounting pressure from his creditors.

He is believed to be in debt to the tune of crores of rupees.

He runs a pub in Madhapur and is also involved in a mining business. Police suspect that Mr Goud instructed the shooters to shoot him in a way that would not seriously harm him.

The police are now searching for the gun used by the shooters who threw it in Shaikpet Lake as they escaped.

Once they have all the evidence, police say they will file cases against Mr Goud and his wife M. Shipali as well as the shooters.

There is also speculation that another reason for the allegedly staged attack was that excise officials would call him in for questioning in a drugs case in the pub he runs.

The Youth Congress leader was mysteriously shot at his Banjara Hills residence in the early hours of Friday.

He had two bullet injuries, on his right shoulder and stomach. Police could not find any evidence of attackers from outside breaking into the house.

He is being treated at Apollo Hospital. His wife lodged a complaint alleging that some attackers shot him and fled from the scene.