Ghaziabad, Sep 19 (IANS): The murder of a Delhi-based businessman has been solved with the arrest of his wife and her lover, who is also her dead husband's cousin, police said on Saturday.

Mannu Walia, 40, a real estate developer, was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants on Wednesday while he was travelling to Haridwar in his luxury Audi car alongwith his wife Shalini, 38, and his cousin Vipul, 36.

On Thursday, the victim's younger brother Alok Singh filed an FIR with the Ghaziabad Police saying that Shalini and Vipul were behind the murder.

The incident took place in Raj Nagar Extension area.

The motive of the murder was an illicit relationship between Shalini and Vipul and also to grab Mannu Walia's properties in Delhi and other towns, police said.

"Vipul confessed to his crime during interrogation. Both the accused have been arrested and attempts are being made to arrest the hired killers," said Superintendent of Police Ajay Pal.

Police said they grew suspicious as both Vipul, who was driving the car, and Shalini, who was seated alongside her husband on the rear seat, were unharmed in the attack.

Police said the attackers were hired for Rs.5 lakh.