The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation civil officer Mahesh Patil has been suspended after allegedly committing a fraud. He worked in the K-North Ward and teamed up with others to cheat Habiba Jaaferi ,wife of film actor Jaaved Jaaferi with Rs. 16.24 crore promising high returns on a property development. 

His suspension order was officially issued on Friday and delivered to him on Sunday, June 7. Since receiving the notice, Patil has completely vanished, and authorities are currently unable to trace his whereabouts.

The alleged scam unfolds 

The accused had first approached Habiba Jaaferi regarding a property tax linked to her bungalow in Andheri. Thereafter she was introduced to Mahesh Patil an employee of BMC who allegedly assured her that he would help her and sort out the matter. 

After gaining Habiba Jaaferi’s trust, Mahesh encouraged her to invest in a redevelopment project in Bandra West promising high returns and profits. It so happened another accused businessman Nishit Patel is said to have backed the proposal claiming support from few major builders stating that crores have already been invested in the project. 

The Forgery and Impersonation claims. 

The project called New Kamalkunj was presented as a commercial property under the redevelopment offering possession by December 2025 but the investigations alleged that the promises were part of a larger fraud set up. 

The accused is said to have repeatedly visited Jaaved Jaaferi’s home showing them forged documents, maps, letters and even fake videos and images of the proposed project to gain their trust. Over time Habiba and her family were convinced to sell their properties and invest the money in the new scheme where funds were transferred through several companies.  

The most disturbing detail was the accused reportedly used a device that looked like an official government equipment to carry out the fake registration work. During the questioning Nishit Patel allegedly admitted he had prepared the fake documents, photographs, signatures, and the forged documents. 

Given the scale and the seriousness of the case Mumbai Crime Branch has taken over the investigations and Crime Branch Property Cell has already arrested businessman Nishit Patel while the BMC officer Mahesh Patil is absconding and investigations are on to see if more people were cheated in this major scam and pattern and many companies linked are being carefully examined and more arrests may be possible as the probe continues.