HYDERABAD: Police arrested four members of a Nepali gang involved in a robbery at the house of a retired professor in Kowkoor under the limits of Jawahar Nagar Police Station.

The accused allegedly planned the crime under the guise of a birthday celebration.

Gang uses birthday celebration as cover for robbery

Addressing the media at the commissioner's office in Neredmet on Saturday, Commissioner Sumathi said Meena alias Mamata and Rajesh, both natives of Nepal, had joined the house of retired professor Muralimohan and his wife Vijayalakshmi as domestic workers a few months ago.

The duo reportedly learnt that the elderly couple lived alone and kept cash, gold and silver ornaments at home. Mamata allegedly conspired with other Nepali nationals Rajesh, Sabina, Chang, Samrat, Bishwal, Kamal and Shankar who were employed at different locations in the city.

On May 11, Mamata allegedly told the couple that it was her birthday and celebrated the occasion with the gang members in the servant quarters. Later, around 8.30 pm, the gang entered the house, tied up Muralimohan and Vijayalakshmi, and allegedly administered intoxicating substances to them.

The accused then broke open cupboards and allegedly stole nearly 60 tolas of gold, 15 kg of silver and $3,000 in cash.

Accused tried to flee to Nepal via railway station

Police said some of the accused escaped in an autorickshaw while others fled on scooters and reached Yapral. They later abandoned a scooter, hired two taxis and travelled to Secunderabad railway station allegedly to flee to Nepal.

During the investigation, police found that Meena and Rajesh were also linked to a previous theft case registered under Moinabad Police Station limits. Fingerprint analysis conducted at the crime scene reportedly matched Meena's fingerprints.

Based on technical surveillance and field intelligence, police detained Sunita, Bishwal, Kamal Bahadur and Shankar at Secunderabad railway station and recovered the stolen property from them.