Hyderabad: In less than a week, criminal gangs linked to Nepal have struck again in the city, this time targeting an elderly couple in Kowkoor. Although the robbery took place on Monday night, the incident came to light only on Tuesday evening after the victims managed to alert police with the help of locals.The incident comes even as Hyderabad police continue efforts to trace suspects from Nepal in the murder of the wife of former IPS officer Vinay Ranjan Ray. In the latest incident, a couple posing as domestic workers, along with five associates, drugged and robbed retired professor N Murali Mohan, 68, and his wife, Dr K Vijaya Lakshmi, 65.According to police, the accused stole nearly 60 tolas of gold jewellery, 15 kg silver, two mobile phones, and US $3,000 from the couple’s residence at Golf Enclave in Kowkoor.Mohan, a retired academic currently working as an international arbitrator, and Vijaya Lakshmi, a faculty member in the pathology department at Mamatha Academy of Medical Sciences in Bachupally, had returned to Hyderabad in 2017 after working in various countries and settled in the newly constructed villa.Police said the couple had hired a Nepali couple, identified as Rajesh and Sabina, as live-in domestic workers around 15 days ago. Accommodation had been provided to them in servant quarters located within the premises.On Monday night, Rajesh invited five associates to the servant quarters under the pretext of celebrating Sabina’s birthday. The accused offered cake to the elderly couple.At around 8 pm, while Mohan and Vijaya Lakshmi were having dinner, the seven accused entered the house armed with crowbars. Threatening to kill the couple, they forced them into a bedroom, tied them up using duct tape and clothes found in the house. Rajesh forced Mohan to drink water mixed with an unidentified sedative. Vijaya Lakshmi, however, was not forced to consume it, Jawaharnagar police said.“They broke open almirahs and stole gold jewellery, silver, mobile phones and US dollars before fleeing,” Mohan told police.After committing the robbery, the accused escaped from the house. Mohan regained consciousness only on Tuesday afternoon. Despite his condition, he managed to free himself and screamed for help. A passerby who heard the screams came to the couple’s rescue.With the help of the passerby, Mohan contacted his brother-in-law, who lives nearby, following which police were informed.Based on Mohan’s complaint, Jawaharnagar police registered a case under Sections 310(2) (dacoity), 123 (causing harm by means of poison with intent to commit an offence), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), and 127(2) (wrongful confinement) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.“We are analysing CCTV footage and other technical evidence to trace the accused,” Jawaharnagar inspector S Saidulu said.
