Navelim. A case of alleged financial fraud involving a physically disabled and visually impaired man has been reported from Navelim in Goa’s Salcete area, with the alleged loss estimated at around ₹70 lakh. Margao Town Police have registered a case based on a complaint filed by the man’s wife, Maria Inez Fernandes, and have begun an investigation. According to the complaint, the alleged financial irregularities took place between 2021 and 2026.
The complaint alleges that Sohail Shaikh, a resident of Cuncolim who was reportedly working as caretaker of the victim, Caetano Fernandes, along with his brother Riyan Shaikh and another person identified as Paulino, allegedly gained access to the victim’s financial information and banking facilities. The complainant has alleged that this access was subsequently used to withdraw money from the victim’s bank accounts.
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According to the complaint, the accused allegedly induced the victim to sign several cheques linked to different bank accounts. The complainant further alleged that the victim’s ATM card and PIN were also taken into possession by the accused. These banking instruments and details were allegedly used to withdraw approximately ₹70 lakh from the victim’s accounts.
The complaint also alleges that a loan was obtained against the victim’s pension. According to Maria Inez Fernandes, she and her husband were taken to the State Bank of India branch in Navelim, where the victim allegedly signed various documents. The complaint states that a ₹3 lakh loan was subsequently obtained against his pension on the basis of those documents.
The complainant has alleged that the loan amount was used by the accused for their personal purposes. She has sought an investigation into the alleged withdrawal of money from the victim’s bank accounts and the circumstances under which the pension-backed loan was obtained.
Police have registered the case based on the complaint and are examining financial transaction records. Investigators are expected to verify when and how much money was withdrawn from the relevant bank accounts, how the cheques were used and how the accused allegedly obtained access to the victim’s ATM card and PIN.
The investigation will also examine the documents used to obtain the ₹3 lakh pension-backed loan and determine where the loan proceeds were transferred or used. Banking records, transaction details and other available evidence could play an important role in determining the sequence of events and the alleged involvement of the three accused.
The allegations are currently under investigation and have not been established in court. The specific role of the three persons named in the complaint, as well as their alleged connection with the financial transactions, will be determined during the investigation. The case is being investigated by a woman police sub-inspector of Margao Town Police Station.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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