The youngsters, aged 14 and 15, were among a gang of five held by police for the alleged murder of 65-year-old Linda Cajetan Andrade, who was found killed in her home last month.

The group are suspected of stealing 400,000 rupees ($7,100) and some gold ornaments from her home.

"These boys wanted money to bet on the Indian Premier League and the (football) Euro cup," police superintendent Arvind Gawas told AFP, adding that the cash was used for betting but that it was unclear how much was gambled.

"After the murder and robbery they sold all the gold and distributed the money amongst themselves," he said. "They betted during the IPL and continued during the Euro cup."

The five accused were picked up from different locations in the south of the holiday state of Goa after one of them confessed to the crime, Gawas said.

Along with the grandsons are three males aged 15,19 and 21.