Late ASI's daughter duped of ₹38 lakh pension by family friend

In a startling case of alleged betrayal and financial fraud, a 25-year-old woman from Shahibaug, Ahmedabad, has filed a police complaint accusing a long-time acquaintance of cheating her of over ₹38 lakh. The money, she claimed, included government benefits received after the death of her father, a police officer.

The case was registered at Madhavpura police station on Tuesday by Ishaben Damor, the daughter of the late assistant sub-inspector Mahendrabhai Kalubhai Panda, who was misled into transferring large sums of money from her mother's bank accounts to Rajeshbhai Thakor, a family friend and former schoolmate. The accused allegedly promised to return the funds once he overcame financial difficulties, a promise that remains unfulfilled.

According to police, the financial transfers took place over a span of nearly eight months, from July 2022 to February 2023. She claims to have handed over a total of ₹38.02 lakh, a sum which included deposits from her late father’s pension and other posthumous government dues credited into her mother's bank accounts.

The complainant, a postgraduate and eldest of three sisters, explained that after her father’s sudden death from a heart attack in January 2021, she was left to handle all family responsibilities, including the bureaucratic and financial procedures involving her father's retirement benefits. She approached her friend Rajeshbhai Thakor, a resident of the Sabarmati area, whom she trusted due to their long-standing relationship.

Rajeshbhai allegedly convinced her that he was facing extreme financial distress, with an ailing father and family debt, and that he would repay her once his situation improved. Trusting him, Ishaben transferred the amounts electronically via UPI.

However, after repeated delays and excuses, Rajeshbhai issued two cheques, one for ₹17.11 lakh and another for ₹21 lakh, drawn from a Union Bank account in his mother's name. Both cheques were returned unpaid in April 2023. When questioned, Rajeshbhai allegedly asked for another six months, but never returned the money.

When they demanded the money back, the accused brazenly denied, which caused Isha’s family immense financial and emotional damage. After which, a FIR was lodged against Rajeshbhai, along with three other family members, Jayantibhai Thakor, Shaleshbhai Thakor, and Mumanben Rajeshbhai Thakor as co-accused in the case, alleging their possible involvement in aiding the fraud.

The case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to cheating and breach of trust.