5 hold businessman, kin hostage, make off with 2 kg gold, Rs 1.3 cr

Police said around 1.30 am, the masked men managed to evade security at the gate and broke into the house by cutting the window grill. Over the next hour, they roused the sleeping family and held them hostage in a room. Police said 8-9 persons were at home at the time, including women and children.

“The accused tried looting the house but couldn’t find anything. So they woke up the victims. The complainant told us his aged parents, wife, children and siblings were put in a room. The accused had two pistols and several knives… They threatened the businessman’s father with a pistol. He was taken to different rooms to collect the cash and jewellery. The son was also threatened and harassed,” said a senior police officer.

Police said the men threatened the family and told them not to call the police. They also locked everyone in a room before fleeing. CCTVs in the area show the suspects leaving around 2.45 am.

“The family managed to free themselves later but reported the matter the next day,” said an officer. Meanwhile, the accused managed to flee from the nearby railway tracks.

A case was registered. During investigation, police found that the accused tampered with CCTVs in and around the house. “They fiddled with the DVR system to evade arrest. We suspect someone from the house or a worker is involved as the accused had information (of the looted items). We are questioning relatives, workers and ex-employees,” said an officer.

Sources also said the accused appear to have conducted recce several times in the area days before the incident. The businessman is into paper trading and his father retired as a contractor.