An inter-state mafia trading in rare antiques are suspected to be behind the stealing of a priceless Ravi Varma painting from a house at Pattambi in Palakkad on Wednesday.

The original work, estimated to be 90 years old, bears Ravi Varma’s signature and shows Menaka waving a baby to sage Viswamitra who denies it is his child.

A three-member gang posing as policemen had reportedly barged into the house of Balakrishnan Nair, a retired IAF official, and claimed that they were from special branch police in Kozhikode.

“They said they had a search warrant and spotted the painting. I said there was no chance of it being stolen and asked for their identity. They pretended to show their card from a distance,  which I could not make out,’’ he said.

Mr Nair said the next moment, the trio which came in a car took hold of the painting and marched out. They threatened him, his wife and her sister and cut off the telephone line while going out. The 65-year-old ex-IAF man said that he tried to block the car. But they hit him and fled. “I have no idea how much it is worth. But I want it back. It is an original work,’’ Mr Nair said.

The State police have taken a serious view of the incident and has set up a high-level team to inquire into it. Forensic officials are also assisting the police.