Mysuru: A 73-year-old man has approached the police nearly 28 years after the death of his wife, alleging that her death was suspicious and that her identity was subsequently misused to allegedly forge documents and divert property and financial assets worth crores of rupees.
Based on the complaint filed by N.N. Prasad, Krishnaraja Police have registered a case. The FIR was registered on August 28, 2026, under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, relating to alleged identity fraud, forgery, cheating in property matters and breach of trust.
Wife died in 1998
According to Prasad’s complaint, he married Padmaja on January 24, 1988. The couple reportedly lived together before Prasad returned to the United States due to work commitments in December 1998.
Prasad stated that Padmaja went to her parental home in Chamundipuram, Mysuru, while he returned to the US on December 14, 1998.
Six days later, on December 29, he received information that his wife had died at her parental home.
He said he participated in the funeral rites but did not raise questions about Padmaja’s assets or jewellery at the time. He subsequently returned to the US.
Questions raised years later
Prasad said he gradually lost contact with his wife’s family after her death.
His father-in-law, Gaurishankar, died in 2010. Prasad continued to occasionally communicate with his sisters-in-law.
According to his complaint, concerns about what happened to his wife’s assets emerged much later.
Prasad alleged that one of his sisters-in-law told him that Padmaja’s death had not been reported to certain banks and regulatory authorities and that dividends from shares held in her name were allegedly being withdrawn using forged signatures.
Alleged fake PAN card
Prasad further alleged that a PAN card had been fraudulently obtained in Padmaja’s name.
According to the complaint, some companies later issued notices seeking KYC formalities relating to shares held in Padmaja’s name.
Prasad alleged that forged documents were prepared and submitted in response to the notices.
One company reportedly detected discrepancies and summoned his sister-in-law for clarification. According to Prasad, she did not appear and instead asked him to take responsibility for the shares held in Padmaja’s name.
He said he declined.
Property records allegedly forged
Prasad has also alleged that several original documents, valuables and jewellery went missing after the death of his sister-in-law.
He claimed that property records relating to assets belonging to his father-in-law were subsequently altered or forged.
According to the complaint, properties in Mysuru allegedly worth crores of rupees were transferred to unauthorised persons using forged documents.
Prasad said that further discussions with relatives led him to suspect that multiple people were involved in the alleged creation of false records and misappropriation of property and shares.
Four people named in complaint
Prasad has accused four people of allegedly colluding to forge signatures, create fake documents and misappropriate assets.
The complaint names D.L. Srikanth, 44, Sudha Swamy, 65, Shwetha, 42, and R. Dwarkanath Rao.
Several other individuals, including Mohan, Harish, Padmanabha, Nagarathna, Gundu Rao and Dwaraki, have also been named in the complaint.
The allegations are yet to be established through investigation.
GPA obtained to pursue legal action
Prasad stated that his sister-in-law Tanuja later granted him a General Power of Attorney (GPA) to initiate legal proceedings concerning the family’s assets.
While examining the records, he claimed to have found discrepancies in property documents and alleged evidence of forged signatures.
He subsequently approached the police seeking action against those allegedly responsible.
Police register case
The Krishnaraja Police have registered the case based on Prasad’s complaint.
The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding Padmaja’s death, the subsequent handling of her identity and assets, and the alleged forgery of property and financial records.
Police will also have to establish the authenticity of the documents and determine whether the alleged financial and property transactions involved criminal wrongdoing.
Allegations made decades after death
The case has attracted attention because the complaint concerning Padmaja’s death and subsequent alleged misuse of her identity has been filed nearly three decades after her death.
Prasad’s complaint alleges that he did not initially suspect wrongdoing and only became concerned after receiving information about the handling of his wife’s shares and property.
The investigation will determine whether the allegations can be substantiated.
Conclusion
A 73-year-old man has filed a police complaint 28 years after his wife’s death, alleging that her identity was later misused to forge documents and allegedly divert property and financial assets worth crores.
The complainant, N.N. Prasad, has named four people and several others in connection with the alleged forgery and property-related fraud. Krishnaraja Police have registered a case and are expected to investigate the allegations and the circumstances surrounding the disputed assets.