Bhubaneswar, Sept. 17: Police today nabbed the mastermind behind the robbery at the home of an elderly couple in Gandamunda earlier this month.

In an exchange of fire between the robbers and the cops early today, the cops nabbed the mastermind but three of his associates managed to flee.

The alleged mastermind, Suresh Gajendra alias Bala, who has suffered bullet wounds to the right knee, has been admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. His condition is said to be stable.

Acting on a tip off, a special squad of the twin cities police reached Nuagaon, on the outskirts of the city, around 4am and raided the place where Gajendra and his associates were hiding. When the squad approached their hideout, police sources said the gangsters opened fire at the cops. The police retaliated and in the exchange of fire, Gajendra was injured. His associates managed to escape but Gajendra was overpowered.

Gajendra was first taken to Capital Hospital here but when his condition deteriorated, he was moved to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack early this morning.

DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said: "Gajendra masterminded the robbery at Gandamunda on September 5 in which an elderly couple was robbed."

The police have seized a 7.65mm pistol, two live ammunition, a moped and Rs 15,000 worth of cash from the possession of Gajendra. The police said the hunt was on to nab his associates.

On September 5, Gajendra and three of his associates entered the home of a retired government employee in guise of prospective tenants. The goons reached the house around 12.50pm when the 73-year-old house owner Subash Prusty and his 68-year-old wife Sradhanjali Prusty were at home along with their relatives.

The goons gagged Sradhanjali's mouth with tape and snatched her gold necklace and ring. Later, they assaulted Subash and snatched his gold chain and ring. The couple was robbed of 120 grams of gold. Incidentally, the house is located barely 500 metres from Khandagiri Police Station. The police had come under severe criticism for the robbery in one of the busiest areas in the city.

The cops said Gajendra was also involved in a robbery case at Chandan Jewellery shop at Master Canteen in 2013. Robbers had looted nearly three kilograms of gold from the shop on June 5 that year.