Udupi: Three people have been arrested by the Udupi police in connection with the brutal murder of a recreation club owner.

The three have been identified as Sujith Pinto (35) from Kallianpur, Pradeep Poojary (36) from Kodankoor and Rajesh Poojary (30) from Kakkunje Kunjibeetu. Police apprehended the three at Kandlur while they were making their escape.

On Sunday, July 29, Guruprasad Bhat (45) was attacked at his club ‘7th Heaven’, by four machete-wielding men who had arrived at the spot in a Maruthi Omni. Guruprasad was gravely injured in the attack and was rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead by the doctors.

The police believe that a dispute over financial matters between the victim and one of the perpetrators, Sujith Pinto, is the motive behind the attack.

Sujith Pinto has also previously been implicated in the Varwady Praveen Kumar murder case.