Patna, Oct. 23: Police recovered the body of a businessman shot in his shop in Begusarai district early this morning after he did not return home last night.

Mukesh Kumar (25), a dealer in foodgrain, was shot dead at Harichak in the district, around 120km east of Patna, late on Thursday night. The family launched a search for him in the morning, apprehending he was in danger.

Begusarai superintendent of police (SP) Manoj Kumar said officers rushed to the shop around 7am after being informed of the mishap by other shopkeepers in the area.

Manoj said the officers were not yet ruling out the involvement of acquaintances in the murder. The victim's brother, Rakesh, also a businessman, told the police that his (Mukesh's) wedding was to be solemnised early next year. Denying the involvement of any insider, he told interrogators: "Mukesh was threatened over phone by some goons, who had demanded extortion money from him."

Gunjan Kumar, the Bhagwanpur police station house officer, said the shutters of the shop were pulled down but some shopkeepers noticed the bloodstains in the morning and reported the matter.

Gunjan said that the assailants had pumped two bullets into Mukesh's body. "The vicitm's father, Ravindra Nath, was a schoolteacher in Jamui and had died recently. Mukesh was likely to be appointed as a teacher on compassionate grounds," he added.

An FIR has been lodged against unidentified persons on the statement of Rakesh, the SP said. "He (Mukesh) lived alone at Harichak and his house was frequented by many visitors. The role of his acquaintances is being verified," he said.