Mumbai: Caretaker embezzles over Rs 6 cr from retired IIT professor

In a shocking case of betrayal and financial fraud, the Powai Police have registered an FIR against a woman caretaker for allegedly siphoning off more than Rs 6 crore from a retired IIT professor and deceitfully placing him in an old age home without his family`s knowledge.

According to police sources, the complainant, an 82-year-old retired professor from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), lives in Powai. His son, a doctor, resides in Pimpri, Pune, with the professor’s wife, while his daughter lives in Powai. The professor owns four flats in the area, residing alone in one, while the other three are rented out.

Police officials said the professor regularly visited a local garden in Powai, where he met the accused woman in 2017. Over time, she gained his trust and eventually began working as his full-time caretaker, gradually taking over his day-to-day responsibilities.

As his health deteriorated—especially his vision and physical strength—the professor became increasingly dependent on her. He eventually handed over his debit and credit cards to the caretaker, as he was no longer able to visit ATMs. Initially, she withdrew money for household expenses, but later began transferring large sums to her own account using cheques.

In his statement to police, the professor said that after he lost his vision completely earlier this year, the caretaker moved him into an old age home without informing his family. She also misrepresented his condition to others, while continuing to use his ATM cards and access his internet banking via his mobile phone.

Police added that the accused manipulated the professor into signing several legal documents, including gift deeds for three of his flats, effectively transferring ownership to herself. She is also accused of stealing cash, jewellery, and other valuables—bringing the total value of the fraud to over Rs 6.55 crore.

The fraud came to light when the professor’s son learned of his father’s sudden relocation to an old age home and rushed to Mumbai on June 8. Upon speaking with his father, he uncovered the full extent of the exploitation and filed a complaint at the Powai Police Station.

“Based on the victim’s complaint, we have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for cheating, forgery, and criminal breach of trust. A detailed investigation is currently underway,” said a police officer from the Powai Police Station.

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