MUMBAI: Two days after an elderly woman was found strangled at her

residence, four people were arrested on Friday in connection with the

. The four include a couple who had availed of a loan from the senior citizen, the police said.

Vasanta Laxminarayan (79), who lived alone at her 1-bedroom-hall-kitchen house in Milind Nagar locality, was found strangled with a dupatta on Wednesday. A few gold ornaments were missing from her house. Vasanta was a moneylender, the police said.

A taxi driver, Akbar Amir Shaikh (35), his wife Sameera (34) and two of their accomplices-Mohammed Ali Patari (25) and Mohammed Haq (29), - have been arrested.

The police said that Akbar had taken a loan from Vasanta, but was unable to repay it. Vasanta often called up Akbar, demanding repayment of the dues. "That is why Akbar and his wife decided to get rid of Vasanta. They had also planned to steal whatever they could from the house," said an officer from Shahu Nagar police station.

Deputy commissioner of police Vikram Deshmane said that Akbar and the aides strangled Vasanta. "After killing her, they fled with 75gm of gold ornaments," Deshmane said.

The police had learnt from neighbours and relatives that the elderly woman only let in known people into her house and never entertained strangers. "Also, there was no sign of forced entry into the house," said another officer.

Deshmane said their inquiry revealed that one of the accused persons had visited her flat that night. "He spilled the beans on the others," he said.