Mangaluru : The Central Crime Branch personnel on Friday arrested Umesh Poojari (29), a resident of Someshwara, on charges of murder for gain. The accused, along with three others, had allegedly murdered Vidyaraj (16) nine years ago and took away Rs. 62,000 cash from him.

Mr. Murugan said the victim was working as an office boy with Sona Bankers at Rao and Rao Circle in the city. When he was on his way to B.C. Road to hand over Rs. 62,000 cash to a banker as per his employer’s instructions on June 3, 2006, Umesh, Sandeep Shetty, Rajesh and Pavan, allegedly kidnapped him. Vidyaraj was strangled to death and his body was found at Periyashanthi near Nelyadi on Mangaluru-Bengaluru National Highway.

While the other three accused had been arrested long back, Umesh was at large and was nabbed by crime branch personnel near Nanthoor.

Mr. Murugan announced that the personnel involved in the nabbing operation would suitably rewarded.