Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde’s mother was duped of Rs 2.5 crore allegedly by the caretaker of a family property here, a police officer said on Wednesday.
The accused, Tapas Ghosh, 49, was arrested on Tuesday night and a special investigation team (SIT) of Nagpur police is looking into the matter under the supervision of DCP Vinita Sahu, he said.
The officer said the Bobde family owns Seadon Lawn, the property adjoining their residence near Akashwani Square that is rented out to host various events.
The CJI’s nonagenarian mother, Mukta Bobde, is the owner of the property and the family had appointed Ghosh, a resident of Friends Colony here, as its caretaker, he said.
Ghosh was managing the property for the last 10 years and looking after its finances, the officer said.
Taking advantage of Mukta Bobde’s advanced age and poor health, Ghosh allegedly forged payments receipts of the lawn and duped her of around Rs 2.5 crore, he said, adding the money involved in the case may be more. Ghosh and his wife did not deposit the entire amount they collected by renting out the lawn for various programmes, including marriages, the officer said.
When the fraud came to light, the police formed the SIT, which includes officers from the Economic Offences Wing.
On Tuesday night, an FIR was registered under relevant provisions of the IPC at Sitabuldi police station, he said. Ghosh, who was questioned by the SIT earlier, was subsequently placed under arrest.