Kundapur businessman shot dead outside church; 3 teams hunt accused Derek Crasta
Synopsis
A late-night phone call over a business payment dispute ended in a pre-dawn shooting outside a church in Kundapur. Ivan Richard Mascarenhas, 45, was lured to the spot and shot dead allegedly by Derek Crasta, who arrived in a Mahindra Thar and fled. A woman eyewitness in the car has identified the accused — and three police teams are now on the hunt.
Key Takeaways
Ivan Richard Mascarenhas , 45, a businessman from Barkur , was shot dead outside Holy Rosary Church, Kundapur at around 3.15 am on 31 July .
Accused Derek Crasta allegedly lured Ivan to the spot under the pretext of settling a financial dispute before opening fire with a handgun.
Ivan sustained gunshot injuries below the waist and died at the scene due to excessive blood loss.
A woman who was with Ivan in the vehicle has reportedly identified the accused, providing a key lead.
A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act at Kundapur police station .
Three special police teams have been constituted to trace and arrest Derek Crasta , who remains absconding.
A 45-year-old businessman, Ivan Richard Mascarenhas, was shot dead in the early hours of Friday, 31 July outside Holy Rosary Church on Church Road, Kundapur, in Udupi district, Karnataka. Police suspect the killing stemmed from a financial dispute between Mascarenhas and the accused, identified as Derek Crasta, who remains at large. Three special teams have been formed to trace and arrest him.
How the Night Unfolded
According to police, Derek allegedly contacted Ivan by phone at around 11.45 pm on 30 July over pending payments linked to their shared business dealings. During the call, Derek reportedly offered to mediate in recovering the outstanding dues — but the conversation allegedly deteriorated into a heated argument, with Derek challenging Ivan to meet him alone in Kundapur.
At around 1.30 am on 31 July, Derek allegedly shared his location with Ivan. Ivan drove to Kundapur and parked his car on the concrete road opposite Holy Rosary Church. A woman was reportedly present with him in the vehicle.
The Shooting
At approximately 3.15 am, Derek allegedly arrived at the spot in a black-and-red Mahindra Thar SUV and pulled up in front of Ivan's car. As Ivan stepped out, the accused allegedly opened fire with a handgun. Ivan sustained gunshot injuries below the waist, including wounds to his waist and leg, and collapsed on the road. He died at the scene due to excessive blood loss before medical help could reach him.
The woman accompanying Ivan has reportedly identified the accused, giving investigators a key lead in the case.
Who Was Ivan Mascarenhas
The deceased was a resident of Kachoor in Barkur and was involved in multiple business ventures, including the prawn supply business. Preliminary investigations indicate the murder arose from financial transactions and business-related differences between the two men. Police said they are examining all angles, including the full extent of their dealings.
Police Response and Investigation
Senior officers — including Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar, Additional SP Sudhakar Nayak, Deputy Superintendent of Police H.D. Kulkarni, Kundapur Town Police Inspector Jayaram Gowda, and Sub-Inspectors Nanja Nayak, Pushpa, and Anoop Nayak — visited the crime scene. The Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) team inspected the spot and collected evidence.
A case has been registered at Kundapur police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act. Three special teams are actively working to trace Derek Crasta, who remains absconding. Further investigation is under way.
Point of View
A shared location, a lone drive to a pre-selected spot — points to premeditation, not a spontaneous confrontation. If investigators confirm that Derek Crasta deliberately used the pretext of a debt settlement to draw Ivan out, the charge framing under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita could escalate significantly. The presence of a woman eyewitness who has already identified the accused is an unusually strong evidentiary position for police at this early stage. The speed with which three special teams were constituted suggests the Udupi police are treating this as a high-priority case — but the clock is ticking, as the accused has had several hours' head start in a coastal Karnataka region with multiple exit routes.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in the Kundapur church road shooting?
The victim was Ivan Richard Mascarenhas, a 45-year-old businessman from Kachoor in Barkur, Udupi district, Karnataka. He was involved in several business ventures including the prawn supply business and was shot dead outside Holy Rosary Church on Church Road, Kundapur, in the early hours of 31 July.
Who is the accused in the Kundapur murder case?
Police have identified the accused as Derek Crasta, who allegedly shot Ivan Mascarenhas using a handgun after arriving at the spot in a black-and-red Mahindra Thar SUV. Crasta remains absconding, and three special police teams have been formed to trace and arrest him.
What was the motive behind the Kundapur businessman's murder?
Police suspect the killing stemmed from a financial dispute over pending payments between the accused and the deceased. Preliminary investigations indicate business-related differences, and investigators are examining the full extent of their dealings.
How did the accused lure the victim to the spot?
According to police, Derek Crasta allegedly called Ivan Mascarenhas at around 11.45 pm on 30 July, offering to help recover outstanding dues. He later shared his location at around 1.30 am, and Ivan drove to Kundapur, where he was shot at approximately 3.15 am.
What legal action has been taken in the Kundapur shooting case?
A case has been registered at Kundapur police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act. Three special teams have been constituted to trace the accused, and the Scene of Crime Officer team has collected evidence from the site.
