Cuttack, May 30: A gang of armed robbers broke into the house of a retired Orissa High Court judge in the early hours today, tied up the judge and two of his family members and fled with gold ornaments and Rs 13 lakh in cash.

The victim, Justice Pradyumna Kumar Mohanty, is heading the commission of inquiry probing into the alleged 2011 Pipili gang-rape and murder case.

After raiding the Justice Mohanty's residence at CDA, the robbers escaped in a Maruti Swift car belonging to the retired judge and abandoned the vehicle at Rasulgarh in Bhubaneswar. The incident has shocked the city because not only has the robbery taken place at the house of a retired high court judge, but it has also taken place in an area that is supposed to have a high-level security.

"It's a shameful incident," said director-general police Sanjeev Marik, who visited the spot along with senior police officials.

The police suspect at least seven persons to be involved in the robbery, which took place over the a few minutes.

The robbers, who spoke a mixture of Hindi, Telugu and sometimes Odia, had entered the house (Gurukrupa plot No. 11/1B/41) around 3.15am after breaking a window grill on the ground floor.

They went straight into the bedroom where Justice Mohanty and his wife Sanjukta were sleeping.

Justice Mohanty said that the robbers, who were armed with knives and sharp weapons, had their faces covered.

"They tied us (with pieces of clothes) and asked us to hand over cash and other ornaments. They disconnected the landline and took away our mobile phones. Later, they broke the cupboard, took the cash and valuables and searched the entire house," he said.

After opening all the lockers on the ground floor, some of them went to the first floor of the house, where Justice Mohanty's daughter-in-law Shradha was sleeping. Her husband was out of the city.

Hearing the noise on the ground floor, Shradha had locked herself in the bathroom. The robbers, Justice Mohanty said, broke open the door and brought her downstairs to the room. They tied her legs and hands.

He said that after they brought Shradha to the ground floor, the robbers searched the house again.

Sanjukta Mohanty, wife of the retired judge, said: "The robbers have taken away Rs 12.90 lakh in cash, gold jewellery including five necklaces, three pairs of bangles and other ornaments."

"They did not harm us. When I pleaded with them to spare my astrological (zodiac) ring, they did not insist on taking it. While leaving, they asked us for the car key and escaped through the main gate," she said.

"We will try our best to nab the culprits involved in the incident," said Marik, adding that the entire police patrolling measures at the satellite township of CDA and city would be reviewed and strengthened.

The daring act has raised serious questions about the security measures at the CDA, which has two police stations.

"If such an incident can occur at the residence of a retired judge, how can a common man feel secure in the satellite township?" said Subrat Sahu, a resident.