A Lower Parel-based family has alleged that their neighbours defrauded them of over R1 crore under the pretext of a high-return investment scheme. According to the complainant, her family invested large sums of money and gold jewellery between May 2021 and January 2023. The accused are currently absconding, and the NM Joshi Marg police have launched a manhunt.

The complainant, Nayana Devlekar, 49, originally resided in Pratiksha Nagar, Sion, before moving to Lower Parel with her husband and two children in 2000. During her time in Sion, her neighbours were Bhakti Khandarkar and her husband, Akshay. In 2014, Devlekar received a message from Bhakti on Facebook, where the two reconnected and began discussing financial investments. Bhakti allegedly proposed a scheme promising 10 per cent returns on every R1 lakh invested.