Patna, April 11: A middle-aged businessman, who had come here from Jamui yesterday morning, went missing mysteriously with the family alleging kidnap and conspiracy.

Vinod Kumar, who has a factory manufacturing packed edibles, came here to meet one Vishal Sanjay Bariyar, a builder. Vishal met him at Adharshila Complex around 3pm, after which Vinod could not be traced.

Vinod's younger brother Santosh came to Patna today and lodged an FIR against the builder for allegedly kidnapping him.

"Vinod wanted to buy a flat in Patna and had contacted Vishal for this. A deal was struck and Vinod had paid Rs 2 lakh to Vishal as advance for the flat's booking. However, after sometime, Vishal backed out of the project and told Vinod about the same. In turn, Vinod asked his money back from Vishal and the latter gave him a cheque of Rs 3 lakh. The problem between them started when the cheque bounced. Vinod kept asking Vishal for his money and after some delay in paying, Vishal had called Vinod around 3pm on Friday to Patna for a settlement. Vinod reached Patna on Friday morning and around 3pm, he went to Adharshila Complex to meet Vishal. Vinod went missing after meeting him," an officer at Gandhi Maidan police station said.

Santosh said: "Vinod had told me that he was in Adharshila Complex and was all set to meet Vishal. But an hour after that we could not reach him. His phone was switched off. We called up some of our friends in Patna and they also searched for him. This is a conspiracy and Vinod has been kidnapped by Vishal who was in no mood to give back the money," Santosh said.

The police said the matter was being investigated.