Maintaining an illicit relationship with a widow in his neighbourhood, who was already in a relationship with his friend, cost a 35-year-old man his life after he was brutally murdered by the friend and two accomplices in southwest Delhi's Kapashera.

On Sunday, police arrested two people in connection with the murder, even as the prime accused in the case is absconding. The arrested duo have been identified as Pushpendra Kumar, 25 and Chandan Singh, both residents of Kapashera. Efforts are on to nab the third accused, Raj Kishor.

The incident came to light on December 11 after the police received a call regarding a body that was lying near a pond at Kapashera border.

"On inspection, it was found that some parts of the victim's head had been eaten by stray animals. After extensive effort the deceased was identified as Ramesh, who hailed from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. He was living at a rented accommodation in Kapashera and was doing private jobs," said additional CP (southwest) A K Ojha.

During investigation, Ojha said, it was learnt that Ramesh was having an illicit relationship with a widow living in his neighbourhood. Further investigation revealed that one Raj Kishor was also in an illicit relationship with the same widow.

Police questioned several people.

"To verify their role in the incident, we nabbed Kumar and Singh and interrogated them at length during which they confessed to the crime. Ramesh was stabbed several times and his face was smashed with a stone to conceal his identity," the officer said.