Police suspect the involvement of a servant, Mattu, who was employed with the family about two months ago and who had visited the house only yesterday seeking re-employment. The incident took place between 2 and 3 am when Sarladevi was in the bedroom of her 6000-sq ft apartment located on Gamadia Cross Lane. Mattu allegedly gained entry into the flat from the spiral staircase in the backyard, meant for domestic servants. Sarladevi was sleeping with her grandchildren when Muttu threatened her with a knife and asked her to handover the cupboard keys. When she resisted he said he would hurt the children. Sarladevi then relented and gave him the keys.

However, Muttu found that the cupboard contained only Rs 10,000, and asked Sarladevi for the safe keys. When she said she didn't knowwhere the keys were, Mattu wrenched her arm and threatened to kill her. Sarladevi relented once again and gave him the keys to the safe also.

Within minutes Muttu had cleared the safe. He left the same way he had come - through the rear entrance. But before he escaped he tied down Sarladevi and gagged her with a piece of cloth that he had picked up from the cupboard to prevent her from crying for help.

A police officer told this newspaper that Sarladevi had suffered minor bruises on her hands.