A retired professor from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, aged 82, has become the victim of a shocking case of fraud. His name is A. Manmohan, though some reports also refer to him as Manmohan Agarwal. He is an elderly man who once spent his life teaching and guiding students in one of India’s top institutes. After retirement, he lived peacefully in Powai, Mumbai. As time passed, he grew old and weak. His eyesight was not good, and he began needing help with his daily tasks. What happened next would change his life in a painful and unbelievable way.
In the year 2017, while Professor Manmohan was spending time at a local park in Powai, he met a woman named Nikita Vijay Naik. She seemed kind and friendly at first. Over time, she gained his trust and became close to him. Later, he hired her as his domestic helper. She started taking care of his daily needs and helped around the house. Slowly, she took charge of everything—his cooking, shopping, bills, banking, and personal matters. She became the most important person in his daily life. But what appeared to be care and support was actually a clever trap.
As the professor’s trust in Nikita grew stronger, she began handling his finances. Because of his old age and health issues, he gave her access to important things. She was allowed to manage his bank accounts, operate his ATM card, and handle online banking. She also began collecting and handling his property papers and valuable items. At first, the professor believed she was helping him out of kindness. But behind the scenes, Nikita had different plans. She was planning to take everything he owned. The professor did not suspect anything at all, as he trusted her completely.
By early 2025, things took a dark turn. Without telling the professor’s family, Nikita took him to an old-age home located in Vikhroli. She left him there and told the staff that he had no one to care for him. She told the professor this was for his good and that she would take care of everything else. While he was staying in the old-age home, she began transferring his property into her own name. It was during this time that her fraud became bigger. She used her control over his documents and banking to gain ownership of his flats.
The professor owned four flats worth nearly ₹4.89 crore in total. These were his life’s savings and investments after years of hard work and dedication. Nikita managed to change the legal papers of these flats. In April 2025, she got documents signed that made her a co-owner of one-third share in all four properties. She reportedly used her control over the professor’s physical and legal access to do this. Since he was already in the old-age home and not in touch with his family, she could act without much resistance. The professor, in poor health, was unaware of the fraud.
Not only did Nikita become a co-owner of property worth crores, but she also took huge amounts of money from his bank accounts. According to the police, she embezzled ₹1.04 crore in cash from his savings. In addition to that, she took gold jewelry worth more than ₹8 lakh. The total amount of money and property that she took from the professor is around ₹1.12 crore. She used the trust he had placed in her to rob him of everything he had earned in his lifetime. She acted like a caregiver, but her real plan was something else entirely.
The entire scam might have continued if it wasn’t for a letter received by the professor’s housing society. In June 2025, the society members received a legal notice that mentioned the property transfer. The notice stated that Nikita was now a co-owner of the professor’s flats. This surprised the members, as they had always known the professor to be the sole owner. They grew suspicious and tried contacting the professor’s family. That is when his son, who lived away from Mumbai, was informed about the strange legal document. He immediately rushed back to Mumbai to check on his father’s condition.
The son was shocked to find his father living in an old-age home in Vikhroli. The professor was not doing well and was unaware of what had been done in his name. The son asked the professor questions and quickly realized that the documents had been manipulated. The family was devastated. They had no idea that such a large fraud had taken place. The professor had not spoken to them much during that period, possibly due to manipulation or confusion caused by his health. The family knew they had to act fast. They contacted the police and filed a complaint.
On June 8, 2025, the family registered an official complaint at the Powai police station. The complaint was made against Nikita Vijay Naik. She was accused of multiple serious crimes. These included cheating, theft, criminal breach of trust, and forgery. The police began a full investigation into the matter. They started collecting documents, digital evidence, and statements from all related parties. The police also contacted the banks, housing society, and old-age home. Everything Nikita had done was now under legal review. The police promised to take strict action and ensure that justice was given to the professor and his family.
According to the initial findings by the police, Nikita had used every method available to carry out the fraud. She took full control over the professor’s life. She had access to his ATM, online banking, and important legal papers. She used this access to move money, change ownership, and sign property transfer documents. The professor’s blurred vision and old age were used as tools to carry out the crime. She took advantage of his loneliness and weakness. The police believe she planned this fraud over many years. It was not a sudden act, but a well-thought-out crime.
The community was deeply disturbed after hearing this news. Many people in the neighborhood knew the professor as a quiet, educated, and kind person. He had taught many students in his lifetime and had lived with honor. To see him being tricked and robbed in his old age made everyone sad and angry. People began talking about how dangerous it is for elderly people to live alone. The incident also made many families realize the importance of staying in regular touch with their elderly parents or relatives. A kind-looking helper might not always have good intentions in their heart.
As the investigation moved forward, the police began collecting all digital records of money transfers and ownership documents. They also checked mobile phone records and bank transactions. They contacted the registration office to confirm if the property transfer had been officially recorded. If proven guilty, Nikita could face several years in prison. The charges against her are serious and carry strict punishment under Indian law. The police are also looking into whether she has done similar frauds with other people. They are checking her background and financial history to find if she has cheated others in the past.
The professor’s health is still a matter of concern. At 82 years old, he is recovering slowly. He is now back with his family and is receiving medical care and emotional support. His son is taking care of his legal and financial matters. The family is working with lawyers to reverse the property transfers and recover the stolen money. They are also trying to cancel any legal rights that Nikita may have claimed. Although the law is now on their side, the damage done cannot be erased completely. The trust that was broken and the pain caused will remain.
This incident has raised many questions about the safety of senior citizens living alone. As people grow old, they need help in their daily lives. They depend on caregivers and helpers for everything. But when a trusted helper becomes a thief, the results can be heartbreaking. There should be stronger laws and rules to protect the elderly. Families should be more involved in the lives of their aging parents. Government and social services should also step in to make sure caregivers are registered and regularly checked. Elder fraud is a growing problem and needs urgent attention.
The media is now reporting this story widely. Many newspapers and websites are sharing the professor’s case as a warning to others. They are telling families to be more alert. Experts are also giving advice on how to protect elderly family members. Some of the suggestions include not giving full access to bank accounts, using joint accounts with children, keeping regular contact with neighbors, and doing surprise visits. Many people have thanked the professor’s son for acting quickly. If he had delayed, the family might have lost all their property and savings. His action saved the professor’s future.
The professor, though weak and tired, is slowly recovering. He has started speaking more and responding to family. He is still trying to understand how someone he trusted so much could do such a thing. His story is both painful and powerful. It shows how even the smartest people can be cheated when they grow old and lonely. The incident is being used as an example in police training sessions and community safety meetings. People are learning from this case. It is not just about one person’s loss, but about protecting all elders in our society from such fraud.