A heartbreaking case of alleged familial betrayal has come to light in Bhubaneswar, where a 70-year-old woman suffering from paralysis has accused her eldest daughter and son-in-law of cheating her out of nearly ₹10 lakh and gold ornaments under the guise of providing medical treatment.
The woman, Malati Nayak, had been living with her daughter and son-in-law, trusting them with her care during her prolonged illness. According to the complaint lodged at Nayapalli Police Station, Malati can barely see or hear, making her entirely dependent on her caretakers.
However, her younger daughter Padmavati and son-in-law, Saroj, alleged that the elder siblings exploited Malati’s condition to misappropriate funds from her personal bank account and take away her gold jewellery. Once they became aware of the suspected fraud, they rescued Malati from the household and submitted formal complaints to Bharatpur and Nayapalli police.
Police have confirmed that an inquiry is underway, with the accused having been summoned for questioning.
Preliminary reports suggest that the accused initially agreed to return the ₹10 lakh but now face allegations of emotionally and financially exploiting the elderly woman for their own luxury.
The case has sparked outrage, raising serious concerns about elder abuse and the vulnerability of senior citizens within families.
