A 68-year-old man died after he and his wife were gagged, blindfolded and tied up with shoelaces by robbers, who looted jewellery and ₹70 lakh in cash from their house in Rajendranagar in the early hours of Friday. His wife, however, survived the assault.
Police said the victim, Rajendra Prasad Agarwal, appeared to have died of breathlessness and shock as he was on assisted respiration for the last couple of months — the robbers had taped the couple’s mouth shut. A case of murder and robbery has been registered.
Mr. Agarwal resided at Sirimalle Colony of Hyderguda in Rajendranagar police station limits, along with his wife, Taramani (63). After the robbers fled the scene, Taramani freed herself by cutting the lace with a knife lying on a table in the room, said inspector G. Suresh.
The woman also cut the shoelace tied to her husband’s hands and tried to make resuscitate him when she found his eyes shut, but he did not respond. She rushed to call a doctor in the neighbourhood for help, but it was too late.
Cyberabad Commissioner of Police V.C. Sajjanar said three robbers entered the elderly couple’s house at around 2.30 a.m. and after tying them up, the robbers without much resistance looted jewellery and cash from the almirah in their bedroom. Police suspect that the trio gained entry into the house through the kitchen door, which was open on Thursday night.
The suspects were captured on surveillance cameras installed near the crime spot. Six teams have been formed to nab the accused, Mr. Sajjanar said.
“Their sons, Deepak Agarwal and Rohit Agarwal, were living separately in rented houses in Attapur,” Mr. Suresh said.
Police said they have already questioned their domestic help, car driver and neighbours and will soon interrogate their two sons and daughters. “We are verifying all the possible angles.”
The victim’s younger son Rohit said he visited his parents on Wednesday night after his mother complained of cough. Around 3.15 a.m., he got a call from his neighbour informing him about his father’s death.
