Nine-month police probe reveals how two co-op societies withdrew cheques issued in victim’s name and funnelled cash back to accused
Police have named two co-operative bank operators as co-accused fraud case. Representation pic/istock
A nine-month investigation into a property dispute between two brothers has led the MHB Colony police to uncover a major financial scam involving multiple co-operative credit societies. Officers found that a father-son duo had issued cheques in the complainant’s name, but instead of being deposited into his bank account, the cheques were illegally withdrawn through a Nalasopara-based co-operative society.
MHB Colony police have now named two co-operative bank operators as co-accused in a Rs 26 lakh fraud. The complainant, Nishit Nitin Mehta, 44, a chemical businessman from Borivli West, has accused his brother Vinod Mehta, who is currently out on bail, and Vinod’s son Jignesh, who is absconding. Police have also added two more accused: Nitin Rupareliya, 42, who runs a co-operative credit society, and Manish Rajpopat, 47, of Chembur, who operates another co-operative bank.
How it began
Nishit and his brother’s family had jointly purchased a shop in Borivli for about Rs 1 crore. After disputes, Nishit decided to exit the partnership in 2024 and transfer his share, for which he was to receive Rs 46 lakh. He says he was paid Rs 20 lakh and the remaining money never came.
(From left) Jignesh Mehta, son of Vinod, who is currently absconding in the cheque fraud case, Vinod Mehta, accused brother who allegedly issued the fraudulent cheques and The Ghatkopar location linked to the cheque fraud network. Pics/By Special Arrangement
“My brother and his son never gave me the money. Vinod claimed he had issued 14 cheques worth Rs 26 lakh and deposited them. When I checked with my bank, there was no such entry. I informed the MHB Colony police in February 2025. They recorded my statement but didn’t file an FIR, treating it as a family property dispute,” Nishit said.
What the probe exposed
A police officer said, “During nine months of inquiry, we found that all 14 cheques issued in Nishit’s name were illegally withdrawn through a Nalasopara co-operative society. We registered the FIR in September, initially without naming the co-operative banks.”
Victim Nishit Mehta, who filed the complaint after discovering the Rs 26 lakh fraud
The investigation revealed:
>> Vinod and Jignesh issued 14 cheques to Nishit: twelve of R2 lakh and two of R1 lakh.
>> The cheques were handed to Ghatkopar-based agent Manish Rajpopat, who also runs a co-operative bank.
>> Rajpopat passed them to another agent, who then forwarded them to Nalasopara-based operator Nitin Rupareliya.
>> Rupareliya allegedly withdrew the funds using documents belonging to the victim.
>> Rupareliya deducted his commission and returned the balance to the agent.
>> Rajpopat then deducted his own commission and passed the final amount back to Vinod and Jignesh.
Police say this chain formed a structured fraudulent withdrawal network.
FIR filed; accused summoned
“We have registered an FIR against Vinod Mehta, his absconding son Jignesh, and the two co-operative bank operators, Rupareliya and Rajpopat. Notices have been issued to both operators to join the investigation,” an officer said.
Senior Inspector Harish Gawli said, “In the long nine-month investigation by our officers, we found that two co-operative credit society banks are also involved. We also booked these banks and are now investigating the matter”
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