Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said the murder case of businessman Saket Kumar Gupta would be taken up on a priority basis and a speedy trial would be conducted to bring the culprits to justice.

“The cops did a good job by arresting two of the killers immediately. The case has been taken up on a priority basis. Those involved in the crime would be brought to justice,” Nitish said.

Gupta (45), a cousin of Ashok Kumar Gupta, a director-general-rank police officer posted as the chairman of Bihar Police Building Construction Corporation, was shot dead by three armed criminals on Monday morning, at Kumhrar Park, where he had gone for a morning walk.

The cops, however, made no progress in the case on Tuesday.

They claimed that the two men arrested in connection with the murder had given them “vital information” in the course of interrogation.

“Gupta was killed because of business rivalry. The alcohol syndicate is probably behind the murder,” said a police officer on the condition of anonymity.

He added: “The investigations point to the fact that the reason of the murder was business rivalry. He had ventured into the liquor business quite recently. The police are still investigating the case. They are searching for the third person in the group of killers. According to the information, he is an experienced criminal operating in the Phulwari area. The two arrested men have given some vital information to the police.”

The source added that the criminals had been promised Rs 4 lakh for killing Saket. They had been paid Rs 20,000 in advance.

Gupta owned two beer bars in the Patna City area. He wanted to expand his business and open more bars in Anisabad.

“He wanted to expand his business. The liquor syndicate active in the area was against it. The cops are not 100 per cent sure. Things will come out soon,” another police officer said.

A police source said one of the arrested men had a cellphone shop in the city.

“Pintu’s full name is Ajay Kumar Pintu. He was the man who was riding the bike. Two others, identified as Raju and Kakku, were the contract killers.,” a source said.

He added: “Earlier, the name of one Mukesh had come up. He might have hired the killers. Pintu was Mukesh’s friend. The police are investigating the matter.”