A gambling addict in India slit an elderly woman’s throat before stealing her gold and setting her house on fire. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Police in the Indian state of Maharashtra have arrested an online gambling addict for the gruesome murder of an elderly woman in the province of Thane.

According to the Hindustan Times, police arrested Abhimanyu Gupta, 35, in the Maharashtrian city of Bhiwandi on Saturday for the August 14 murder of 74-year-old Sevamary Augustin Nadar.

An official from Bhiwandi Taluka Police Station stated that Gupta allegedly attacked Nadar when she was alone. The police spokesperson said the suspect slit Nadar’s throat before stealing gold ornaments from her.  

“He then set the house on fire to destroy evidence,” the police official continued. Police arrested and charged Gupta “with murder and other offenses” and he remains in custody until August 28.

online gambling addict who lost ₹2 lakh ($2,384)

An investigation revealed Gupta was an online gambling addict who had lost ₹2 lakh ($2,384) and planned the theft to feed his addiction.

The police official stated that Gupta had prior knowledge of Nadar’s family, having worked in a dairy operated by the deceased woman’s son.

Previous knowledge of the family treasures and setting fire to evidence seems to be a crime modus operandi in India. Last month a teenager killed a 9-year-old girl after she caught him stealing her mom’s jewels to pay off a gambling debt. In this case, however, the teenager tried to set fire to the dead girl with mothballs.