Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has suspended Assistant Commissioner Mahesh Patil of the K-North ward following allegations of his involvement in an investment fraud amounting to approximately ₹16.24 crore. The case involves Habiba Jaaferi, the wife of actor Jaaved Jaaferi, who has lodged a complaint alleging that Patil and his associates defrauded her family by luring them into investing in a Bandra redevelopment project with promises of high returns. The Mumbai Crime Branch has taken over the investigation, and Patil is reportedly absconding.
Officer Accused of Luring Investors with False Promises
According to the complaint filed by Habiba Jaaferi at the Khar Police Station, Mahesh Patil allegedly approached her with an investment opportunity in a redevelopment project in Bandra, Mumbai. Patil is accused of using forged government documents and making false promises to convince Jaaferi and her relatives, including Naved Jaaferi, to invest substantial sums into the venture. The total amount allegedly collected from the investors through various means, including cheques, cash, foreign currency, and luxury items, is reported to be around ₹16.24 crore.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Patil was introduced to Habiba Jaaferi through an acquaintance, initially under the guise of assisting with a property tax issue related to her bungalow. After gaining her trust, Patil allegedly persuaded her to invest in the Bandra West redevelopment project, reportedly named New Kamalkunj, promising assured profits and possession by December 2025, complete with a pre-lease agreement with a foreign bank. Businessman Nishit Patel, another accused in the case, is alleged to have supported the proposal, claiming backing from major builders and significant prior investment.
Suspension Order and Ongoing Investigation
The BMC issued a suspension order for Mahesh Patil on Friday, June 5, and it was formally served to him on Sunday, June 7. Following the FIR registered against him, Patil has reportedly gone missing, and authorities are actively searching for his whereabouts. The case, initially investigated by the Khar Police Station, has been transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch due to the complexity and the significant amount involved.
The suspension of Patil has been carried out under the provisions of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (Services) Rules, 1989, pending the outcome of the investigation into the offenses registered against him. A BMC official confirmed that Patil had sought an extension of his leave during which the FIR was filed. The civic body has also emphasized that disciplinary action will be taken against officials who fail to comply with the prescribed procedures for implementing the suspension order. Businessman Nishit Patel has been arrested in connection with the case and was produced before a court, which remanded him to police custody.
Patil had previously been placed on compulsory leave for a month in November 2025 over allegations related to the same redevelopment project, which he had denied at the time. Investigators suspect that the promises made and the documents presented were part of a larger fraudulent scheme. The expanding investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch aims to uncover the full extent of the alleged scam and identify all individuals involved.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
