Mangaluru : The police on Tuesday nabbed four people involved in the murder of a businessman at Niddodi Daddu, Kallamundkooru village, of Moodbidri police station limits.

City Police Commissioner M Chandra Sekhar said on Wednesday Umesh Shetty (30), who owned Prabhavathi Transport, went missing after leaving his work place on December 28. Shetty’s body was found at Niddodi Daddu on January 1.

The police arrested four suspects – Prasad Acharya (27), a resident of Nadugodu and working as a crane operator and repairer, Rajesh Shetty (32) of Niddodi and a crane operator by profession, Tilak Poojary (26) of Niddodi and a crane operator and Prakash (28) of Mudigere taluk in Chikkamagaluru and a carpenter by profession.

The commissioner added that suspect Prasad Acharya was a family friend of the victim.

The officer said that Umesh Shetty had sold his ancestral property and Acharya was eyeing the amount received. After demonetisation, Shetty responded to a long-standing request of Acharya for monetary help to build a house and gave Rs 30 lakh on November 8. When Shetty asked for the money, Acharya asked time till March.

Finding Shetty interested in owning a quarry, he took Shetty to Kudripadavu where, with the help of the other suspects, strangulated Shetty. The body was dumped in the forest area at Niddodi Daddi.

The probe team was led by ACP (North) Rajendra D S and including probationary SI Maruthi.

The Commissioner announced a cash prize of Rs 15,000 along with letter of appreciation to the team.