Powai Property Scam: Caretaker Grabs 4 Flats From Retired IIT-B Professor in Shocking Betrayal
The Betrayal of Trust — How a Retired IIT-B Professor Lost ₹6 Crore to His Caretaker
A Distinguished Career, a Quiet Retirement, and a Devastating Fraud
Mumbai, Maharashtra — In one of the most shocking cases of elder abuse and financial exploitation reported in recent years, an 82-year-old retired professor of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology – Bombay (IIT-B) fell victim to a carefully orchestrated fraud, allegedly perpetrated by a woman he had trusted as his caretaker for over seven years.
The victim, Manmohan Agarwal, a retired electrical engineering professor, had lived alone in a posh Powai high-rise since 2005. Having taught generations of India’s brightest engineers, Agarwal’s life appeared stable — until his health began to deteriorate and his world was gradually taken over by someone he trusted.
A Calculated Entry into His Life
In 2017, Agarwal met 36-year-old Nikita Naik, a woman who presented herself as caring, sincere, and willing to assist him with day-to-day activities. With his family not frequently present — his wife living with his son in Pune and his daughter residing elsewhere in Mumbai — the octogenarian relied heavily on Naik, entrusting her with increasing responsibilities, from managing household chores to handling his bank visits.
By all appearances, she served as a dutiful companion, someone who went beyond basic caretaking to help a respected academic live with dignity in his twilight years. But behind this facade, a long-term, meticulously planned betrayal was underway.
A Slow Usurpation of Wealth and Autonomy
What started as minor assistance soon developed into total control. According to police reports and family testimony, Naik began withdrawing money from Agarwal’s account using his ATM card. Over the next several years, she allegedly manipulated the professor, who was gradually losing his eyesight, to sign documents without comprehending their contents.
By 2025, the professor had been defrauded of ₹6 crore, including ₹4 crore worth of property in the form of four flats in Glen Height, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai. According to investigators, Naik had cunningly obtained his signatures on legal documents transferring ownership of the flats to her — under the guise of other paperwork.
The Old Age Home Conspiracy
The alleged deceit took a dark turn earlier this year when, emboldened by the professor’s isolation, Nikita Naik admitted him to “Town Will Care,” an old age home in Vikhroli. The justification provided was medical assistance, but investigators say this move was strategic — with Naik seeking to remove Agarwal from his residence and create a legal environment where she could act freely.
In April 2025, only two months after his admission to the home, Naik reportedly took Agarwal to a medical appointment — but instead, led him to execute a gift deed that effectively transferred the flats into her name. Police believe that this act was the culmination of years of grooming, manipulation, and strategic deception.
Uncovering the Crime: A Son’s Visit Sparks the Investigation
The case might never have come to light had Agarwal’s son not visited from Pune in June 2025. Hearing disturbing accounts from acquaintances that his father was residing in an old age home, he visited the facility and was shocked by his father’s condition and circumstances.
Alarmed and enraged, the son filed a complaint with the Powai Police Station, leading to a formal investigation. When the police examined the legal trail, what they found was deeply disturbing: ₹1.3 crore withdrawn from the professor’s account over three years, ₹2 crore worth of jewellery missing from his bank locker, and ₹5 lakh in cash deposited by Naik in her own newly opened locker — along with the property documents.
Registered Charges Under New Criminal Code
Following a detailed preliminary inquiry, the Powai Police registered a case against Nikita Naik under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, India’s updated criminal code. She has been charged under:
- Section 306 (Theft by servant or clerk)
- Section 316(4) (Criminal breach of trust by servant or clerk)
- Section 318(4) (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property)
Naik has been detained and is currently under interrogation as the police build a watertight case around what they describe as a “systematic and prolonged exploitation of a vulnerable senior citizen.”
The Anatomy of Exploitation — How Financial Control Evolved into Full Ownership
Gaining Financial Footing: From ATM Withdrawals to Total Access
Once the initial trust was established, Nikita Naik began extending her influence over every aspect of Professor Manmohan Agarwal’s life. What began as routine errands — such as collecting prescriptions, paying electricity bills, or accompanying him to the doctor — soon shifted into complete control over his financial activities.
Police investigations revealed that as early as 2018, Naik had been withdrawing money using Agarwal’s ATM card. The professor, whose vision had begun deteriorating around that time, depended on her to handle day-to-day banking. By 2025, she had reportedly siphoned ₹1.3 crore from his account — all under the pretext of helping him manage his affairs.
The withdrawals were subtle at first: ₹5,000 here, ₹10,000 there. But over time, the frequency and the amounts increased. By the time the family discovered the extent of the crime, over ₹1.3 crore had been withdrawn without proper explanation or record.
Psychological Isolation: A Classic Abuse Pattern
Elder abuse experts note that Naik’s behavior fits a common profile of coercive control seen in such financial exploitation cases. Over time, she allegedly isolated Agarwal from his friends and remaining social circle. She subtly discouraged visits from relatives, intercepted calls, and managed his appointments — building herself as the indispensable gatekeeper of his life.
According to officers from Powai police station, she kept close tabs on who contacted him and often presented herself as the professor’s daughter or “family member” to outsiders, making it more difficult for others to approach him.
One official familiar with the case noted:
“There was a slow and deliberate detachment from his own family. Her goal appeared to be to consolidate emotional and logistical control before the final act of transferring property.”
Forgery Under Duress: The Gift Deeds and Flat Transfer
The core of the fraud — the illegal transfer of four flats worth over ₹4 crore — was executed through gift deeds. Investigators say that Naik exploited Agarwal’s blindness to have him sign these documents without his understanding of what he was authorizing.
Each of the flats was located in Glen Heights, a premium residential complex in Hiranandani Gardens, Powai. According to the police, the deeds were notarized using legal intermediaries procured by Naik, who assured them that the elderly professor was willingly gifting his assets to his “adopted daughter” or “caretaker in gratitude.”
None of these legal professionals verified Agarwal’s comprehension of the documents, nor did they ensure that he was independently represented — a serious lapse given his age and medical condition.
In April 2025, only two months after admitting Agarwal to the Vikhroli old age home, she took him out for what she described as a “medical appointment.” Instead, she had him sign the gift deed paperwork and visited the registration office to formalize the transfer.
Hiding the Evidence: The Bank Locker Maneuver
Following the flat transfer, Naik opened a bank locker in her name at a local branch. Surveillance footage, locker records, and employee testimony confirmed that she deposited:
- ₹5 lakh in cash
- Jewellery worth ₹2 crore
- Original documents related to all four flats
Police suspect this was an attempt to hide the assets and make it harder for the professor’s family or authorities to trace or recover them.
“Once the flats were registered in her name, she wasted no time safeguarding the documents and valuables,” said an officer on the investigative team. “She was clearly preparing for the long haul — a life of luxury, funded by a man she had systematically broken down.”
A Pattern of Preying on Vulnerability
While the current case focuses on Professor Agarwal, sources within the crime branch are investigating whether Naik may have defrauded others in similar circumstances. She allegedly has prior employment history in other households, including as a caregiver to elderly individuals.
“We’re going through old FIRs, property transactions, and financial records in regions where she previously worked,” said a senior officer. “If this wasn’t her first time, it’s possible we are looking at a serial offender operating under the guise of caregiving.”
Psychologists working with elder abuse victims say that elderly individuals with limited vision, no daily contact with their children, and declining physical health are often prime targets for financial exploitation — especially in affluent urban areas.
Family’s Awakening — The Legal Battle Begins
The Son’s Visit: Uncovering the Deception
The unraveling of the elaborate fraud began in June 2025, when Manmohan Agarwal’s son, a practicing doctor based in Pimpri, Pune, received a concerning call from a former neighbor in Hiranandani Gardens. The neighbor informed him that his father had not been seen for weeks, and rumors were circulating that he had been moved to an old age home.
Alarmed, the son traveled to Mumbai to verify the situation. What he discovered shook him to the core.
His father, once an esteemed professor and mentor to hundreds at IIT-Bombay, was now residing in a modest, privately run old age home in Vikhroli. The facility, “Town Will Care,” confirmed that Agarwal had been admitted by Nikita Naik under the pretense that he had no surviving family and needed care.
Upon meeting his father, the son was horrified to learn the extent of what had transpired — the isolation, the manipulation, and the asset transfers. Agarwal expressed confusion, helplessness, and anguish at having been deceived by someone he considered family.
First Steps Toward Justice: FIR Lodged
Shortly thereafter, the son approached Powai police with a detailed complaint outlining the suspected fraud. After taking a formal statement from Agarwal, who was still mentally alert despite his deteriorating vision, the police registered a case against Nikita Naik.
She was charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including:
- Section 306: Theft by a servant or clerk from their employer
- Section 316(4): Criminal breach of trust by a servant
- Section 318(4): Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property
A preliminary inquiry confirmed much of what had been alleged. Bank records, CCTV footage from ATMs, and locker access logs all pointed toward a calculated campaign of fraud. Furthermore, forensic analysis of the gift deeds suggested that Agarwal’s signatures, while genuine, were procured under misleading circumstances.
Legal Strategy: Revocation and Recovery
The family’s legal counsel has initiated proceedings to:
- Invalidate the gift deeds, arguing coercion, abuse of fiduciary trust, and absence of informed consent
- Freeze the bank locker, which contained the stolen jewellery, documents, and cash
- Place a hold on any transfer or sale of the four flats, pending the outcome of a civil suit
“We are confident that justice will be served. The legal system has sufficient provisions to undo transactions procured through deception and elder abuse,” said advocate Priya Mandke, a senior property and inheritance lawyer representing the family.
She added that a separate case under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, was also being prepared, which could strengthen the prosecution’s case against Naik.
Community Shock: A Wake-Up Call in Powai
The Glen Heights Residents’ Welfare Association issued a statement condemning the incident, calling it a “betrayal of human dignity and trust.” The residents expressed shock that someone in their building could fall victim to such a scheme unnoticed.
“Mr. Agarwal was a pillar of our community. This incident has shaken all of us,” said the president of the society committee. “We must take elder care more seriously and be vigilant when we notice red flags.”
The society has now proposed a vetting system for all domestic staff and live-in caretakers. Additionally, they’ve launched an awareness campaign in collaboration with local NGOs focused on senior citizen rights.
India’s Hidden Crisis — Elder Abuse, Legal Loopholes, and the Failing System
A Disturbing Pattern: When Care Becomes Control
The case of Professor Manmohan Agarwal is not an isolated one. It is part of a disturbing and growing trend across urban India: the systemic exploitation of the elderly by those entrusted with their care. As families become nuclear, and children move abroad or to different cities for careers, senior citizens are increasingly dependent on caretakers. In many cases, these caretakers are hired informally, without background verification, legal contracts, or accountability mechanisms.
According to a 2024 report by HelpAge India:
- Nearly one in every two elderly persons in Indian metros report feeling financially insecure.
- Around 36% of senior citizens said they had experienced mistreatment by family or caregivers.
- 13% of them had faced property-related cheating or manipulation.
Professor Agarwal’s case, while egregious due to the amount of money and property involved, reflects broader failures in social infrastructure, family engagement, and state oversight.
The Loopholes in Law: How the System Was Exploited
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), under which the case was registered, provides more comprehensive provisions than the old IPC. However, certain vulnerabilities remain that make elders easy targets:
- Gift Deeds and Coercion: Indian law permits gifting property voluntarily, but proving coercion—especially mental coercion—can be extremely difficult unless there is a clear recording of intent or external witness.
- Banking Access: Entrusting ATM cards or locker keys to caretakers is common, but banks rarely intervene unless there’s a clear complaint. Lack of biometric verification for major transactions leaves a major loophole.
- Registration of Property Transfers: Sub-registrars often don’t verify the mental condition or willingness of the elderly donor, especially when documents appear in order.
- Old Age Homes Regulations: Many old age homes operate without regulation, license, or staff trained in elder care. They can be easily used to isolate a victim, as was done in Agarwal’s case.
Failure of Prevention Mechanisms
Despite the presence of legislations like the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, enforcement remains weak. Local police stations often treat elderly abuse as a “family matter” unless it involves high-value property or media attention.
Retired Justice Rekha Menon, who chaired a 2023 committee on elder protection, says:
“The real issue is that elder abuse doesn’t get prioritized unless there is violence or large-scale financial loss. Psychological coercion or emotional isolation are nearly invisible to authorities until it’s too late.”
In the Agarwal case, all the warning signs were present—sudden withdrawal of funds, property transfer, and abrupt relocation to an old age home. Yet, no one intervened.
Technology and Tracking: A Double-Edged Sword
India’s banking system has introduced multiple layers of authentication and mobile alerts, yet for senior citizens with failing eyesight or cognitive issues, these systems often go unmonitored. In Agarwal’s case, his declining vision meant he couldn’t check SMS alerts or cross-verify withdrawal patterns.
Digital illiteracy among the elderly further exacerbates the risk.
A 2023 study by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) found that only 17% of Indians over 60 are “digitally literate,” with most of them relying on others to manage finances.
Civil Society’s Role: Protecting the Vulnerable
Following the Agarwal case, several NGOs such as Dignity Foundation and Silver Inning Foundation have launched targeted outreach programs in Mumbai’s suburbs. Their aims:
- Educate elders on legal rights and financial protections
- Encourage families to register caretakers and execute legal agreements
- Offer helplines for reporting suspected abuse
Social activist and elder rights advocate Sheetal Laxmi stated:
“What happened to Professor Agarwal is a wake-up call for Indian society. We need a comprehensive framework that blends legal protection, digital security, community monitoring, and empathetic care.”
Redemption and Reform — Can Justice for Professor Agarwal Change India’s Elder Care Landscape?
Justice in Motion: The Legal Process Begins
After the shocking revelations came to light in June 2025, the Powai police moved swiftly, registering a formal complaint against caretaker Nikita Naik under serious sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita:
- Section 316(4): Criminal breach of trust by a clerk or servant
- Section 318(4): Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property
- Section 306: Theft committed by a clerk or servant of property in their master’s possession
With the FIR in place, Naik was detained and interrogated regarding the large-scale financial and emotional exploitation of 82-year-old Professor Manmohan Agarwal. Investigators also confirmed that she had not acted entirely alone — forensic audits are now underway to check for involvement of any real estate agents, bank insiders, or legal advisors who may have facilitated the illicit transfer of property.
The Powai police also filed a petition seeking the cancellation of the registered gift deeds, arguing they were signed under coercion and deception. A case is now pending before the Mumbai civil court to reverse the property transfers and restore the four flats to Professor Agarwal.
The Role of Family: Reconnecting in Crisis
In a tragic twist, the exploitation was enabled partly due to family neglect. Professor Agarwal’s son, a doctor in Pune, reportedly had limited contact with his father for several years. The daughter, who lives in Powai, was also unaware of the caretaker’s manipulation until the old age home incident came to light.
Following the police complaint, both children have now stepped in to support their father. They have begun legal proceedings to:
- Regain access to the bank locker and retrieve the stolen valuables
- Challenge the property transfers in the Mumbai registrar’s office
- Ensure Professor Agarwal’s health and legal rights are protected
Family negligence, though unintended, played a part in leaving an elderly man vulnerable to external manipulation. Now, family re-engagement has become vital to his recovery and justice.
A Wake-Up Call for the Nation
The story of Professor Agarwal has struck a national chord, not only due to his respected stature as a retired IIT-Bombay professor but also because it reveals the darker underbelly of elder care in India. It has sparked:
- Public debate across news outlets and social media about elderly rights
- Policy conversations at the Maharashtra Assembly regarding regulation of caretakers and private old age homes
- Demand from NGOs for a new national elder protection law that is stronger than the existing 2007 Act
The Mumbai Police Commissioner has ordered a city-wide verification drive of caretakers and domestic help registered for vulnerable elderly individuals living alone. Legal experts are calling for a standardised “Senior Citizen Property Protection Framework,” including:
- Mandated court oversight before gift deeds by elderly are registered
- Two-witness authentication for bank locker openings by non-family
- Monthly wellness and financial checks for elders living alone
Voices for Reform: A Nation Reflects
Professor Agarwal’s case has become symbolic of a much deeper social fissure. It has led to a movement where the voices of activists, lawmakers, NGOs, and citizens are converging on the following core ideas:
- Institutional Accountability: Banks, sub-registrars, and old age homes must be made accountable to flag and prevent suspicious transactions involving senior citizens.
- Legal Guardianship Review: Stricter procedures must be put in place before a caretaker gains legal or financial control over a senior citizen’s assets.
- Community Support Networks: RWAs and local social workers must be involved in regular outreach to solitary elders.
- Mandatory Caretaker Contracts: All live-in or personal caretakers should be formally registered with police and their roles clearly defined in writing.
A Hopeful Turn: Agarwal’s Message to Society
Professor Agarwal, now reunited with his family and under medical and psychological care, released a brief written message through his legal counsel:
“I dedicated my life to teaching and building India’s future. I never imagined I’d be betrayed in my last years. But I hope this case becomes a reason for our society to better protect its elders. No one deserves to feel abandoned or deceived when they are most vulnerable.”
His statement has since gone viral, quoted by political leaders, senior citizen networks, and educational institutions across the country.
Legacy of a Case: From Tragedy to Transformation
What began as a tragic tale of elder abuse and property fraud is now transforming into a landmark case for elderly rights reform in India. It holds the potential to:
- Set judicial precedent on property protection for the elderly
- Influence national policy on caretaker regulation and oversight
- Inspire more families to maintain strong bonds with their ageing parents
The Manmohan Agarwal Case, as it is now referred to in legal and media circles, is no longer just about four flats or ₹6 crore. It is about dignity, trust, and justice in the twilight of life — a battle India can no longer afford to ignore.
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