A builder, who was shot at on July 18 on a highway, had staged the event in order to implicate a businessman and his brother, the police revealed on Sunday, adding that he also wanted an armed bodyguard by implying a security threat.

Seraikela-Kharsawan police unravelled the truth behind the alleged firing on Sanjay Mohanty (45) near Sudha Dairy on Tata-Kandra Road in Adityapur after arresting six persons, including the builder and those that helped him with the charade.

Seraikela-Kharsawan SP Mohammed Arshi said he had formed a special investigation team, led by sub-divisional police officer (Seraikela) Rakesh Ranjan, after Mohanty filed an FIR alleging that bike-borne criminals had rained shots at him while he was in his car in an attempt to kill him on the night of July 18.

"As Mohanty said he suspected land dealers Shankar Pradhan and Sanjay Pradhan of Ashingi in Adityapur, the police team interrogated them, subsequently resorting to technical help to reach Amit Pal, the shooter,” Arshi told the media.

During questioning, Pal divulged the truth, admitting that Mohanty had paid him money to stage a gun attack on his car. Police then picked up Mohanty, his brother-in-law Shankar Kuanr and their driver Santosh Chauhan. After their interrogation, police were able to confirm that what shooter Amit Pal had claimed was indeed true.

Arshi quoted Mohanty to explain that he had apparently bought a plot of land from the Pradhans after which things soured between the them. "Mohanty had acquired land for a housing project at Ashingi village near NIT-Jamshedpur from the Pradhans by means of a power of attorney. He developed the plots and sold some to interested parties for building houses. But in the meantime, there was a dispute which led the Pradhans to cancel the power of attorney," Arshi said.

Mohanty was in a spot. Those who had bought plots wanted possession or a refund of the money they had paid him. It was then that he conspired to stage an armed attack on him.

“Mohanty thought the Pradhans would be arrested and he would then be in a position to exert pressure on them to get back the power of attorney. This, he was sure, would also pave the way for getting himself a bodyguard,” the SP explained.

Apart from Mohanty, his brother in-law, and shooter Amit Pal, police have arrested their driver Santosh Chauhan, Ajay Kumar Mondal and Shankar Pal. All are residents of Adityapur. Police have recovered a 7.65 mm pistol, ammunition, two two-wheelers, eight cell phones and Rs 15,170 cash from them