Bhubaneswar, Aug. 16: Two persons, including a realtor, were arrested today for the August 12 murder of builder Krushna Chandra Nayak at Nayapalli. Two pistols, two live bullets and the motorcycle used in the crime have been seized from their possession.

Salila Patnaik, alias Tarini, 36, a native of Jankia in Khurda district and Suresh Sharma, alias Nepu, 20, from Nepal, were arrested. While Tarini stayed at IRC Village, Nepu was a slum dweller.

“The murder is the fallout of past enmity between Tarini and Nayak, who were engaged in a land dispute. In March, 2011, Nayak and his sons had allegedly attacked Tarini, who later plotted the murder to take revenge,” said deputy commissioner of police Nitinjeet Singh.

Eyewitnesses to the murder had claimed the attackers had come in a navy blue motorcycle but the two-wheeler seized today was red. The eyewitnesses include Sabyasachi Jena, who was taking the victim to his residence on his motorcycle when the incident took place.

The police said that on the day of the crime, both Tarini and Nepu had fired at Nayak, who was returning home from his Nayapalli office.

“We are trying to nab the third accused in the case,” said a police official.

The victim’s son Dhananjay had accused Tarini, who deals in lands, of hiring contract killers to murder his father.

However, the police denied the involvement of any contact killers in the murder.

“Nepu did not have any criminal antecedents. During our probe, we also found that Tarini and Nepu had fired at Nayak. So there is no question of a contract killer’s role in the incident,” said an official.

The police also ruled out Dhananjay’s claim that some hired criminals had fired at their residence on July 27. They said the intention of the goons arrested by the Nayapalli police in connection with the July 27 incident was robbery.

However, Dhananjay accused the cops of trying to cover up the contract killing angle. “Our family membersare sure that Tarini had hired killers to eliminate my father,” said Dhananjay.

The 56-year-old builder was shot dead by three motorcycle-borne goons on August 12. Nayak, who took three bullets in his chest and shoulder, was declared dead at a private hospital.