Patna, March 27: An FIR was lodged against two traders for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping and suspected murder of Ramesh Verma, a 55-year-old trader from Haryana.

Ramesh was apparently kidnapped from Forbesganj in Araria district, around 300 km northeast of Patna on February 13.

His son, Sachin Verma, lodged a complaint with the Forbesganj police station on Sunday apprehending kidnapping and murder of his father.

In the complaint, Sachin said his father had visited Forbesganj on February 13 to discuss issues regarding the setting up of a factory in Nepal with two residents, Raj and Sonu Kumar.

He said the duo had taken Rs 80 lakh from his father. "We apprehended foul play after my father's cellphone was found switched off on the evening of February 13," he told investigating officials.

Forbesganj sub-divisional police officer Ajit Kumar Singh said a case was lodged based on Sachin's statement. Station house officer Mukesh Kumar Saha, who is also investigating the case, said the call details of the victim's cellphone would be analysed to trace his whereabouts. "We are scanning the role of some local gangs," he said.

"If required, a team will be sent to Haryana to get details about the victim and his family," he added, stating that the claims of the victim's relatives were being verified.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Raju and Sonu developed good relations with Ramesh and invited him to visit Forbesganj and Jogbani in Araria district, close to the India-Nepal border.

The trio had planned to set up a factory in Nepal to make gutkha, which is banned in Bihar.