New Delhi, May 1 (IANS): An IAS officer was arrested by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police for allegedly conspiring to murder a city-based businessman, police said on Friday.

Sanjiv Kumar -- a 1985 batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre -- was arrested along with gangsters Shoukat Pasha and two shooters Taufiq and Manna on Thursday. Police also seized weapons from them.

"Sanjiv Kumar has been arrested for criminal conspiracy to murder a businessman who is his friend and closest associate. The plan was hatched while in Tihar jail when Sanjeev was in judicial custody along with the Chautalas," said a senior police officer.

Police said Kumar's plan was to eliminate the businessman, who was his close friend, with whom he had developed a property disputes and also wanted to get himself injured and get bail from the jail.

Kumar's plan was to eliminate the businessman, who was his close friend, police said.

Police also said Kumar had developed some property disputes and also wanted to get himself injured and get bail.

Sanjiv Kumar, along with former Haryana chief minister, Om Prakash Chautala, his son Ajay Chautala and 53 others were convicted by a Delhi court in 2013 for illegally recruiting over 3,000 junior teachers.

Kumar was then the director of primary education in Haryana and the court had relied on his testimony for the verdict.