A sub-inspector of Sadar Hajipur police station was suspended on Tuesday during investigation into the murder of businessman Sushil Kumar Warshney.

Patna-based trader Sushil's murder on Monday sent shock waves through the business community, which have also demanded adequate security in the changing times.

Sushil, who along with his nephew Piyush Nandan, ran Aligarh Locks Pvt. Ltd, which used to sell iron goods in Patna, was shot dead by three unidentified motorbike-borne criminals near Gardaniya Chowk around 3.30pm on Monday. He had gone to the Sadar Hajipur police station on his motorcycle to meet police officer Phaneshwar Paswan, who had allegedly called him to hand over the final report of a case related to a loot involving one of his staff in May last year.

Vaishali superintendent of police Rakesh Kumar said Phaneshwar had been suspended after it was found that he had not submitted the chargesheet in connection with last year's case as yet.

"The case is related to forgery. Piyush, who owns the shop, had lodged an FIR against one Ajay Kumar, one of his employees, stating that he had usurped Rs 11 lakh and was trying to paint it as a loot incident. Ravi had been arrested and was sent to jail too. Sushil could have informed me if according to him, Phaneshwar, who was made the investigating officer in the case, was troubling him. As per information with me, Phaneshwar allegedly refused to hand over the final case report to Sushil after which he had come to my office. Though he did not meet me personally, he was told about the status of the case. The incident took place while the deceased was on his way back to Patna. I reviewed the case after this incident took place and it has been found that Phaneshwar did not file a chargesheet in connection with the case as yet. The officer has been suspended on Monday and the police will investigate why the officer did not file the chargesheet. So far as the murder of Sushil is concerned, we have got leads and those involved have almost been identified," Rakesh said.

With sources talking about a lot of angles behind Sushil's murder, the way in which the crime was committed has spelt fear in the kinds of many, particularly the business community.

"The incident is very frightening. How can a person be shot like that on a busy road in daylight? In the recent past, businessmen have been targets of both criminals and the state government. A huge number of businessmen have been affected by the prohibition rule and there seems to be no end to extortion calls these days. How are we supposed to work in Bihar in the given scenario? Just in April, criminals had casually walked into the shop of Anil Agarwal, another city businessman, and shot him dead in the morning hours," a city businessman, who has decided to move out of Bihar, said requesting anonymity.

Only hours before Sushil, who lived with his family at Pirmuhani (Kadamkuan), was killed director-general of police P.K. Thakur had said criminal incidents used to take place even in "Ram-Raaj".

Satyajit Singh, the Bihar president of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said it's high time that the state appoints an independent home minister.

"Chief minister Nitish Kumar, who holds the home portfolio, is too busy with party and government work. He should leave the portfolio and hand it over to an independent minister. The deceased has got two children and the government must announce a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the family besides taking some stern steps to ensure proper law and order," Satyajit pointed out.

Bihar Industries Association (BIA) president Ramlall Khetan said conviction in cases was important. "Such incidents are taking place but the police have successfully detected many cases too. However, strong steps are needed to contain the current situation," Khetan added.

One of Sushil's family members, who called herself his sister-in-law, said: "The police had come and they are all trying to divert the case. There is nothing more to say for now."

Extortion FIR

A doctor, who runs a private clinic at Naubatpur bazaar, lodged an FIR on Tuesday, stating that he was getting extortion calls from anonymous people.

The victim, identified as Sanjeev Kumar, said he got many calls on June 3 and June 4 in which the caller or callers had asked to pay up Rs 15 lakh or face dire consequences.

An officer of Naubatpur police station said the complaint had been lodged and the matter was being investigated.