BMC Officer Suspended Over ₹16.24 Crore Fraud Case Linked to Jaaved Jaaferi's Wife

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has suspended one of its senior officials after he was accused of being involved in an alleged ₹16.24 crore investment fraud targeting the wife of actor Jaaved Jaaferi, NDTV reported.

Assistant Commissioner Mahesh Patil, who was serving in the K-North ward, was placed under immediate suspension following the registration of a criminal case against him. The suspension order was issued on Friday and formally served on June 7.

The action comes after Habiba Jaaferi, wife of actor Jaaved Jaaferi, filed a complaint alleging that Patil and several associates duped her into investing a substantial sum in a redevelopment project in Mumbai's Bandra area.

According to investigators, the accused allegedly projected the venture as a lucrative investment opportunity and assured the complainant of significant financial returns. The project was reportedly presented as a profitable redevelopment scheme capable of generating high earnings within a short period.

The complaint further alleges that forged and fabricated documents were used to gain the investor's confidence and facilitate the transaction. Authorities are currently examining the authenticity of various documents linked to the project as part of the ongoing probe.

Following the complaint, Khar Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Patil and five others on charges of cheating and related offences. However, officials have reportedly been unable to locate Patil since the case came to light.

Police sources said the suspended civic officer has remained untraceable, prompting investigators to intensify efforts to track him down. Raids have reportedly been conducted at multiple locations associated with the accused individuals.

Given the scale of the alleged fraud and the seriousness of the charges, the case has now been transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch. The specialised agency has taken over the investigation and is examining financial records, transaction details and other evidence connected to the alleged scam.

Crime Branch officials are also looking into the role played by the other accused named in the FIR. Investigators are expected to scrutinise the redevelopment proposal, the flow of funds and the alleged use of forged paperwork to determine the extent of the conspiracy.

The case has attracted significant public attention because of the high-profile complainant and the involvement of a senior civic official. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether any recoveries have been made or if additional arrests are likely in the coming days.

Meanwhile, actor Jaaved Jaaferi has not publicly commented on the investigation. The veteran actor has remained busy with his professional commitments and has recently appeared in projects including De De Pyaar De 2, Mayasabha: The Hall of Illusion and Inn Galiyon Mein.

The investigation is ongoing, and officials are continuing efforts to locate the accused and establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged fraud.