London, Jan 2 (IANS): An Indian origin man who went missing in the run-up to Christmas was found dead in the basement of a house in Britain's West Midlands county.

Baljit Singh, 50, from Birmingham, was last seen Dec 23 when he left his home to collect a birthday cake for his son, the Daily Mirror reported Thursday.

A 32-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman were arrested on New Year's Eve in connection with Singh's disappearance.

The pair is now being questioned by detectives on the suspicion of his murder after his body was recovered from a basement in Rowley Regis Thursday.

They were initially arrested on suspicion of stealing the victim's Range Rover.

“We believe Singh disappeared from Smethwick High Street in early-to-mid-afternoon on Dec 23 -- and that he'd had a drink in the Red Cow pub there before leaving in his grey 58-plate Range Rover,” the report quoted West Midlands Police detective Inspector Warren Hines as saying.

“I'd really like to speak to anyone who was in Smethwick High Street between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on New Year's Eve and may have seen Singh or his vehicle. Any information they can provide could help progress the investigation,” Hines said.

“Did anyone see him or talk to him in the Red Cow pub... did anyone see him with other people? Singh was a short man, around five feet three inches tall with black hair and was wearing a pink shirt with white stripes at the time,” he added.

Two other people arrested on suspicion of car theft -- a 28-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman from Kingswinford -- were released on bail pending further enquiries.