Kolhapur: The chief judicial magistrate of a Kolhapur court directed that the mother-in-law and brother-in-law of a widow along with a branch officer of a private bank be booked for allegedly cheating a widow of Rs 70 lakh after her husband’s death.Nikita Shridhar Patil (27) lost her husband in April 2023 after less than a year of marriage. She was married and settled in Shiroli Pulachi, Hatkanangle tehsil of the Kolhapur district. The woman ought to have received an insurance amount and gratuity after the loss of her husband.After learning that she was cheated by her mother-in-law and brother-in-law law, she approached a Kolhapur court which directed the police to register an FIR, which has now been registered at the Shahupuri Police Station. Following the death of the widow’s husband, his life insurance policy of Rs 50 lakh matured and his account received a sum of Rs 20 lakh as gratuity money. His wife was the nominee for the policy post his death.However, her mother-in-law gained her trust under the pretext of assisting her with receiving the policy pay out. Taking advantage of family relations, the widow’s brother-in-law fraudulently obtained her signatures on blank forms, various legal documents, and security checks without her informed consent.Using these documents, an account was opened in the widow’s name at a private bank in Tarabai Park. However, the mobile number and email ID of the brother-in-law were linked to the account, keeping the widow completely in the dark about the monetary transactions.According to the widow, her brother-in-law conspired with the branch manager and her own mother-in-law. The funds were subsequently diverted into their personal accounts without her authorisation.Upon discovering the financial deception, the complainant approached the chief judicial magistrate court, Kolhapur that issued an order under Section 175(3) of BNSS, directing the police to register a criminal case.An FIR was registered under sections 318(4) (Cheating & dishonest inducement), 316(2) (Criminal breach of trust), 3(5) (Joint criminal liability/common intention), and 61(2) (Criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on Friday.Santosh Doke, police inspector of Shahupuri police station said that the accused are yet to be arrested.
