Ranchi, Jan. 23: The BSFC deputy manager, Pankaj Jha, whose house was robbed in the small hours on Monday, has fallen victim to a case of mistaken identity.

Jha, who lives as a tenant at the Chitragupta Nagar house owned by Shivendra Prasad, a doctor posted at Patna, was mistaken as the medical practitioner.

Both Jha and his wife, Bharati, were drugged before the house was burgled of jewellery and other home appliances. Primary police investigation indicates that the criminals, before raiding Jha’s house, attempted to enter the house of R.P. Sinha, an administrative officer awaiting for his posting in the state after cadre division.

The investigation also suggests that they entered Jha’s house only when they noticed the nameplate of Prasad.

Jha told The Telegraph that he heard the goons saying that they had entered his house by mistake. “It is not the house of the doctor as written on the nameplate,” Jha quoted one of the criminals saying.

“The goons barged into my house breaking the grill lock. Hearing them talking, my wife woke me up. Taking their presence lightly, I open the door and came out, which I think is a mistake. As soon as I came out they took me on gunpoint and compelled me to remain inside and quizzed a lot about my financial status and the presence of other persons in the house,” he said.

“After an hour-long chat, they asked Bharati to bring two glasses of water. As we were at their mercy, she brought water. They then asked my wife to hand over all the keys. Taking keys in their possession, one of them put some powder into the glasses and asked us to drink. Convincing that they would no make any harm to us, they compelled us to drink it. We became senseless as soon as taking the drink. When I came to sense, I found myself at hospital,” he added.

Jha’s wife, Bharati, was too shocked to narrate anything about the loot. Sinha also supported the investigation saying that the criminals tried to enter his house but could not do so because of the presence of two dogs at his residence.

“Prima facie, we know that some electric home appliances and jewellery were stolen, besides some cash,” said Sadar police station officer-in-charge Devendra Prasad.