VARKALA: The police intensified their search for other accused in the robbery with the connivance of the housemaid after adding intoxicants to the food. Sohila, a domestic worker from Nepal, her relative Abhishek and her friend are to be arrested. A special team headed by Rural SP Kiran Narayanan has been formed to investigate.

The incident happened around 9 pm on Tuesday. Sohila set a favourable situation for the robbery by drugging Srideviamma (74), daughter-in-law Deepa and home nurse Sindhu from Venjaramoodu at Lyme Villa near Elakamon Hariharapuram LP School Varkala by adding intoxicants to the kuruma curry served with chapati. Sohila left the house when the family members fell asleep. At this time, Janardhana Upadhyay and Ramkumar, who are also natives of Nepal, came to the house and committed robbery.

As Sohila informed her accomplices that there was money and jewellery in Deepa's room, the gang broke the door with a crowbar and stole Rs 35,000 and gold. Locals caught Janardhana Upadhyay and Ramkumar and handed them over to the police. The police confirmed that Sohila escaped with Abhishek and her friend who were waiting with their auto on the roadside. The police found the auto in which they were travelling in Kollam. No information other than they were passengers was obtained in questioning the auto driver. Police said that Sohila and Abhishek were the ones who planned the robbery.

Rajeev found a housekeeper to take care of his bedridden mother Sridevi through Vishal, a Nepalese resident of Kollam Paravur. Rajeev also asked that the identity documents of Sohila, who joined the job on January 8, be brought to Ayroor station on the 26th. On Monday morning, Abhishek came to the house and told the family that Sohila should be taken to Kottarakkara for a few days. The police concluded that he came in person without talking on the phone to hand over the intoxicating substance and to plan the robbery.

The police said that only after the forensic lab test report of the food samples collected from the house, will it be possible to know what substance was used for sedation. Police have intensified the search in Ezhukone, Kottarakkara, Puttur and Kottiyam areas. Varkala SHO Praveen JS said that the investigation is progressing both inside and outside Kerala.