The Mumbai Crime Branch has issued a lookout notice for Mahesh Patil, a suspended assistant municipal commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). This action relates to an alleged cheating case involving Rs 16.24 crores connected to actor Jaaved Jaaferi’s family. The lookout notice was announced earlier this month due to fears that Patil might flee the country as the investigation continues. This development follows the earlier arrest of UK-based businessman Nishit Patel.
The case centers around investments made by Jaaved Jaaferi, his wife Habiba Jaffrey, and their relatives in a redevelopment project located in Bandra West. Investigators say that these investors were promised attractive returns and commercial spaces, but instead were misled with fake documents and false promises.
Reports indicate that Habiba initially met Mahesh Patil in April 2024 while discussing a tax-related issue at his BMC office. During this meeting, Patil allegedly presented an investment opportunity tied to a Bandra property and suggested that the investment be funneled through Nishit Patel.
According to investigators, Patel made several visits to the Jaffrey family home, bringing layouts, maps, and other project documentation to win their trust. He is said to have convinced the family to invest large amounts of money in exchange for commercial space in the redevelopment.
Crime branch officials allege that forged letters from a private bank, along with other fake documents, were used to assure investors of the project’s legitimacy.
Nishit Patel has already been arrested based on his involvement in the case. Authorities claim that around Rs 16.24 crores was collected from Jaaved Jaaferi, his family, and other investors through misleading claims linked to the redevelopment project.
Investigators suspect that this alleged fraud may have affected other well-known individuals as well. Reports suggest that retired police officers, civic officials, artists, and even former judges invested between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 20 crores after being promised lucrative returns.
The fraud was reportedly uncovered in July 2025 when some complainants visited the Bandra registration office to check project-related documents. During this review, they discovered that one of the agreements presented to them was not registered in official records.
