The property cell of the Bombay crime branch recently arrested a UK-based businessman for allegedly duping actor Jaaved Jaaferi and his wife of around Rs. 17.50 crore by promising high returns in their investments and property allotment in a redevelopment scheme. An assistant commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has also been named as accused, along with three others.
The FIR was filed at the Khar police station in Bombay. The businessman, Nishit Patel, was sent to police custody till May 19.
According to the complaint, Jaaved’s wife, Habiba, learnt about the redevelopment project during a visit to the BMC office, where assistant commissioner Mahesh Patil (who is currently posted at BMC’s K-West ward) allegedly encouraged her to invest through Nishit Patel. The complaint said that allegedly fake government registration documents were prepared and shown as genuine to gain the confidence of investors, including Jaaved Jaaferi, brother Naved Jaaferi, Osman Khan, Happiness Investments, Lonzy Fernandes and Shabana Fernandes.
Officials said that the promised properties were never handed over and the invested funds were allegedly misappropriated.