It was believed to be a murder attempt but turned out to be a self-inflicted injury. Police here on Tuesday solved the mystery behind the firing on former Andhra Pradesh minister Mukesh Goud’s son Vikram Goud with the arrest of two accused including a sharp shooter hired by him.

The Youth Congress leader, who was injured in the firing in the early hours of Friday at his house in upscale Banjara Hills and was so far being treated as a victim, has now become an accused. Police on Tuesday booked him and others under various sections of Indian Penal Code and Arms Act.

Nandu, the shooter who opened fire on Vikram, and another accused have been arrested, police sources said. The hunt was on for two other accused.

Police are likely to announce the arrests and other details of the case on Wednesday.

Initially, police treated the incident as a murder attempt but later suspected it to be case of attempted suicide.

Vikram, who had sustained two bullet injuries on his upper arms, had told police that two bike-borne assailants barged into his house and fired at him. However, the police investigations and the reports by ballistic experts and forensic scientists raised a suspicion on his version.

Police investigations finally revealed that Vikram staged the “attack” as he allegedly wanted wriggle out of financial troubles as some financiers were reportedly pressurising him to repay their loans.

Vikram hatched the plan with the help of a gang from Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. It included a shooter who allegedly opened fire on Vikram to inflict injuries but as per the plan ensured that there is no harm to Vikram’s life.

Mukesh Goud served as a minister in the cabinets of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Kiran Kumar Reddy.