The NM Joshi Marg police have booked a Lower Parel-based couple for allegedly cheating a 52-year-old Worli woman of Rs 53.8 lakh by exploiting a decades-old relationship in which she treated the main accused like a brother. The accused allegedly gained her confidence while she was living alone and undergoing medical treatment before inducing her to part with large sums of money on various pretexts, including the purchase of land in Ratnagiri.

Moved in with family

Police said the complainant had received Rs 41 lakh as her share from her family property and began living separately. She told police she had known the main accused, Rajendra Janawalkar, 58, since childhood. With no family to support her and while undergoing treatment for arthritis and appendicitis, she moved into his Lower Parel residence, where he, his wife Mayuri and other family members looked after her.