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When Family Is the One Who Betrays You
In January 2024, a 62-year-old woman in Mumbai’s Bandra area filed a police complaint.
She wasn’t robbed by strangers. She wasn’t cheated by a builder or conned online.
She was defrauded by her own twin daughters.
What followed was one of India’s most bizarre financial crimes a tale of:
- Identity theft
- Emotional blackmail
- Crores of rupees siphoned
- And two daughters who faked her mental illness to take over everything she owned
Who Were the People Involved?
- The Mother: Urmila Deshpande, a retired bank officer, living alone in Bandra after her husband’s death
- The Daughters: Ritika and Roshni Deshpande, 32-year-old identical twins working in media and fashion sectors, outwardly successful
Urmila had proudly educated them in top schools, funded their careers, and transferred parts of her property to their names over time.
She never imagined they would try to erase her legally and emotionally.
The Shocking Allegation
In her police complaint, Urmila stated:
“They declared me mentally unstable without a doctor’s visit. They forged my signature. They accessed my bank accounts. They moved ₹1.7 crore into shell accounts.”
But what shocked the officers even more:
“They told the building society I was unfit to live alone and tried to get me institutionalized.”
How the Fraud Was Pulled Off
Step 1: Emotional Isolation
The daughters allegedly began gaslighting their mother, manipulating her, twisting facts, questioning her memory, and slowly cutting off her friends.
Step 2: Signature Forgery
Bank KYC forms, investment redirection, and even a will were allegedly forged. Forensic analysis later confirmed signature tampering.
Step 3: Fake Medical Diagnosis
They submitted documents claiming Urmila had early-stage dementia signed by a doctor who later admitted he never saw the patient.
Step 4: Bank Access
Once they gained control, over ₹1.7 crore was transferred into four different accounts, including a fake “family welfare trust.”
What sparked the exposure?
A vigilant neighbor and ex-judge noticed Urmila looked distressed and unwell. After the conversation, he urged her to speak to the police.
She resisted at first.
“She’s your daughter, how could she lie?” she kept saying.
But when she received an eviction notice from her own home, claiming she was “no longer fit to manage property,” she walked into the Bandra cybercrime unit.
The Investigation Unfolds
What police found was a web of:
- Forged IDs and altered bank statements
- Fake e-signatures across digital portals
- Online logins from a single IP address the daughters’ shared apartment
Officers also found WhatsApp voice notes where the twins discussed:
“Once she’s out of the house, we’ll liquidate and move to Dubai.”
Public Reactions & Legal Implications
The case shook Mumbaikars. Twitter trended with:
“Mother Cheated by Her Own Daughters”
“Blood Doesn’t Always Mean Bond”
“How Much is Too Much Greed?”
Legal experts say:
- Forgery + Identity Theft + Financial Fraud = 7–10 years imprisonment under IPC
- But since it’s a family dispute, the case may settle privately a worrying trend in such cases
A Pattern Among the Privileged?
This isn’t the first time family has turned against blood for wealth:
- Hyderabad (2023): Son locked his father in a storage room to claim property faster
- Kolkata (2022): Niece poisoned her aunt after she refused to alter her will
- Delhi (2023): Siblings fought in court over ₹30 crore flat, leaking private videos of each other
Financial crime within families is rising especially when property and digital wealth intersect.
Psychological Impact on Victims
Experts call this “bloodline betrayal trauma.”
Victims like Urmila suffer from:
- Depression
- Paranoia (losing trust in anyone)
- PTSD symptoms
- Often, relapse into social withdrawal
In older adults, this leads to rapid health decline.
“A mother will forgive a slap. But not a lie from her own child that she’s insane.” Clinical Psychologist, Mumbai
How the Law Handles It
- Indian Penal Code Sections 406, 419, 420, 468, and 471 apply
- Property-related frauds involving forged mental illness documents can be charged under Mental Healthcare Act, if proven
- However, most families opt for settlements, fearing reputation damage
In Urmila’s case, she refused to withdraw the case, saying:
“If I die without speaking up, no mother will be safe from her own blood.”
What This Case Teaches Us
- Financial Literacy for Seniors is Crucial
Even educated parents often sign documents without reading or verifying. - Digital Access Should Be Regulated
Family members should not have unmonitored access to senior citizens’ passwords, bank apps, or emails. - Emotional Abuse is Real
Just because someone is “family” doesn’t mean they can’t manipulate or destroy trust. - Neighbors & Friends Can Be Lifelines
If someone elderly looks scared or isolated, speak up. It might save their life.
Parting Thoughts: Greed is the New Pandemic
The case of the Deshpande twins reveals something deeply disturbing:
When money becomes the goal, even motherhood is at risk.
Urmila may survive this betrayal. Or she may carry the scars forever.
But her story must serve as a warning not just about crime, but about silence.
Because the worst criminals are not always strangers.
Sometimes, they’re the ones we raised.
