The CBI has arrested three persons, including a woman-architect and the alleged contract killer, in connection with the murder of Madhya Pradesh's RTI activist Shehla Masood here and claimed to have cracked the case.

Architect Zahida Parvez, who was called for questioning at the CBI office in Bhopal, and an alleged contract killer she claimed to have hired for the murder, were arrested, CBI sources said

CBI sleuths also searched and sealed Zahida's office after arresting her, sources said, adding Zahida's husband owns a petrol pump in the city.

A third person, identified as Irfan, was arrested by Uttar Pradesh State Task Force in a late night operation in Kanpur, SP (Crime) Ashfaq Ahmad said.

Zahida and the alleged contract killer will be produced in a designated court in Bhopal on Wednesday, CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said in New Delhi.
Agency sources claimed Zahida has confessed before CBI sleuths that it was she who had ordered Masood's murder because she was suspicious of Masood's relations with her husband.

Pervez had reportedly told CBI that the killing was executed by the contract killer, whose identity was not disclosed by CBI, hired by her.