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An 82-year-old retired IIT-B professor in Mumbai lost valuables worth over Rs 7 crore in a fraud by his 36-year-old caretaker.
Representative image of Mumbai Police | PTI
An 82-year-old Mumbai resident lost his valuables worth over Rs 7 crore in a fraud orchestrated by his caretaker. The victim, identified as Manmohan Agarwal, is a retired Indian Institute of Technology – Bombay (IIT-B) professor.
The fraud was carried out by his woman caretaker (36) who took advantage of his losing eyesight and got his four Powai flats transferred in her name by obtaining his signatures on gift deeds. The four flats altogether are worth at least Rs 4 crore.
Subsequently, the Powai police detained the woman, who also stole jewellery worth Rs 2 crore from the octogenarian’s bank locker and withdrew Rs 1.3 crore from his bank account in the past three years as he had entrusted his ATM card to her.
Agarwal had been living alone in Glen Height building in Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, since 2005. His doctor son lives in Pune along with the retired professor’s wife while the victim’s daughter resides in Powai.
He had met his personal caretaker Nikita Naik in 2017. Gaining his trust, the fraudster gradually took over his daily needs, including financial chores.
According to Powai police, in February 2025, Naik admitted Agarwal to Town Will Care, an old age home in Vikhroli, taking advantage of his isolation and infrequent visits from family. Later in April, she took him out for a supposed medical check-up and got a gift deed signed, transferring four of his flats to her name. Thereafter, she opened a bank locker in May, depositing Rs 5 lakh in cash, jewellery, and property documents.
The fraud came to light in June when Agarwal’s son visited Mumbai and discovered his father’s condition. A case was filed against Naik under sections related to theft, criminal breach of trust, and cheating under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police were interrogating Naik for further details regarding the years-long fraud.
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18…Read More
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18… Read More
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