Mumbai, Feb 22 (IANS): The Mumbai police Crime Branch Thursday appointed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the murder of Navi Mumbai-based builder S.K. Loharia who was shot dead last week, an official said.

The SIT officials have been appointed from four units of the Crime Branch who will investigate the case, the official said.

Three people, including a former police officer, have been arrested for Loharia's murder. He was shot dead outside his office in Vashi by two men disguised as security personnel Saturday morning. The incident was recorded by the CCTV camera installed at the entrance of Loharia's office.

Loharia, 52, was a director with S.K. Brothers, a realty company engaged in constructing residential and commercial complexes in Navi Mumbai.

After the murder, Loharia's family had claimed that the Navi Mumbai police is incapable of handling the case and it be transferred to the Crime Branch of the Mumbai police. The case was transferred Thursday.

While one of the accused, Venkatesh Shettiar, was arrested soon after the murder, former police officer Emmanuel Samuel Amolik and another accused Wajid Qureshi were nabbed the next day and remanded to police custody till Friday.