Mohali, July 9 -- The two men arrested for the murder of a 62-year-old retired professor, whose body was discovered in the Morni forest area on Monday, had shot him with a licensed gun after he refused to pay Rs.40 lakh, police said.

The victim, Amarjeet Sihag, a resident of Aerocity, had been picked up by the duo from outside his house on July 3. Since the accused - Vikram Singh of Mansa and Balwinder Singh of Muktsar - were familiar to him, Sihag accompanied them without hesitation. During the drive, they demanded Rs.40 lakh from the victim, who, under pressure, made a phone call to his domestic help, Duni Ram.

In his statement to the police, the victim's son, Rahul, told police Sihag asked the domestic help to arrange the money urgen...