Bengaluru: Caretaker heir to Rs 5 crore property Jailed for stealing gold to fund betting addiction

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Oct 30, 2025: In a shocking case of betrayal, a woman who was treated like a daughter by her employer — and even named in her will for property worth Rs 5 crore — has been jailed for stealing gold and silver ornaments from the same household to fund her online betting addiction.

According to reports, Mangala, a caretaker employed by 58-year-old Asha Jadhav of JP Nagar, was arrested by JP Nagar Police after being found guilty of theft.

Mangala had joined Asha’s household around 15 years ago as a domestic help. Over time, she became part of the family, especially after Asha’s elderly mother became bedridden. Her care and devotion earned Asha’s complete trust.

Having no husband or children, Asha — who owned properties worth several crores — had even willed a Rs 5-crore house to Mangala as a gesture of gratitude for her loyalty.

However, that trust was misplaced. Police said Mangala developed an addiction to online betting and began living a lavish lifestyle, frequenting pubs and parties with her boyfriends. To sustain her gambling habit, she borrowed heavily and accumulated debts running into several lakhs.

At one point, Asha even helped her clear loans of ₹40 lakh and earlier transferred another house worth Rs 1.5 crore to Mangala, which she later sold and lost to gambling. Despite these setbacks, Asha continued to trust her.

Unable to overcome her addiction, Mangala allegedly used the original key to Asha’s locker to steal 450 grams of gold and 3 kilograms of silver. She later discarded the key to hide her crime and claimed it had been lost.

The theft came to light during Diwali when Asha made duplicate keys to access her jewellery and discovered the ornaments missing. Initially suspecting outsiders, she filed a police complaint.

Investigations soon pointed to Mangala, though Asha initially refused to believe her caretaker could be responsible. Under interrogation, Mangala confessed to the theft.

She was subsequently arrested and sent to Parappana Agrahara Central Jail. Following the revelation, Asha withdrew the will naming Mangala as heir to her Rs 5-crore property.

What began as a relationship of trust and affection between a woman and her caretaker ended in betrayal and imprisonment — a sobering reminder of how addiction and greed can destroy even the strongest bonds.