The Bombay crime branch has arrested another accused in the Rs. 17.50 crore cheating case lodged by actor Jaaved Jaaferi’s wife, Habiba, alleging that fake government registration documents were used to induce investments from the actor’s family and others.
The police said, the arrested accused, Rupesh More, posed as an official from the registration department and accompanied the co-accused, including absconding accused Sagar Mehta and Devendra Padwal, to the complainant’s residence and offices during execution of fake agreements. British businessman Nishit Patel was arrested earlier in the case.
According to the complaint, BMC assistant commissioner Mahesh Patil gained the family’s confidence after helping resolve a property tax issue related to their bungalow at Andheri in Bombay. Investigators alleged that Mahesh Patil later projected himself as a trusted civic official with insider knowledge of lucrative real estate projects.
The police said, Mahesh Patil promoted the ‘New Kamal Kunj’ redevelopment project at Bandra West (Bombay) and introduced the family to Nishit Patel, claiming that he had strong ties with reputed developers. Patel then persuaded the family to invest nearly Rs. 30 crore by showing project layouts and forged documents, including fake letters purportedly issued by Barclays Bank.
