NEW DELHI, April 19 -- The six accused in the Rs 25-lakh hostage-cum-robbery heist in the city's upscale Golf Links here remain at large, with police suspecting they may have fled the city after carrying out a planned robbery with the help of a domestic worker.

The accused are believed to have escaped in a light grey SUV fitted with a fake number plate, parked a short distance from the house, police sources said.

According to the sources, the gang had carried out a detailed recce before the robbery and identified gaps in surveillance in the upscale locality.

"They were aware that the lane leading to the house was not properly covered by CCTV cameras and that even the entrance lacked proper surveillance," a police source said.

The robbery occurred on Thursday evening when liquor businessman Ashok Chawla, his wife, daughter-in-law and her son were present inside the house. "The accused allegedly barged in with the help of the domestic worker, identified as Sushil, held the family hostage and ransacked the premises before fleeing with jewellery worth around Rs 25 lakh," the source said.

The police informed that the gang had six members, including the key accused, Sushil, who joined the household barely a week before the incident and facilitated the entry of the other accused.

According to the police, Sushil was familiar with the layout of the house, including two entry and exit points.

"While the family did not permit anyone to use the back door, he allegedly used his knowledge of it to help the gang escape from the back after entering through the main gate," a police officer said.

Police sources further noted that the other five accused had gathered in the vicinity nearly half an hour before the crime and arrived in smaller groups to avoid raising suspicion. After the robbery, all six fled together in the SUV. Police suspect insider role in robbery, probe former domestic workers' links. Accused Sushil allegedly took the victim's phone to avoid identification. CCTV suggests pre-planned entry. Family members were manhandled. Raids underway in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, with security tightened and visitor checks intensified.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.