I-T Department Raids Premises of Former Mumbai Cop Pradeep Sharma, Ex-Bureaucrat in Real Estate Probe
Mumbai, May 15, 2025: The Income Tax (I-T) department launched a multi-city crackdown on Thursday, raiding over 20 locations linked to former Mumbai police officer Pradeep Sharma, retired IAS officer Jagdish Patil, and a prominent real estate company in connection with alleged tax evasion, benami property deals, and financial irregularities. The raids, spanning Mumbai, Thane, and Pune, mark a significant escalation in probes targeting Maharashtra’s controversial real estate-politician-bureaucrat nexus.
Focus of the Investigation
The I-T department’s action stems from suspicions of unaccounted income and benami transactions worth crores of rupees linked to Sharma, Patil, and the realty firm. Officials seized documents, digital devices, and financial records to trace alleged money laundering through inflated property deals, cash investments, and undisclosed assets. Sources revealed that the real estate company under scrutiny is accused of acting as a front for channeling black money via fictitious transactions, with Sharma and Patil allegedly facilitating illegal land acquisitions and regulatory clearances.
Controversial Figures Under Scanner
Pradeep Sharma, a former encounter specialist dubbed “Dirty Harry” for his alleged extrajudicial killings of underworld figures in the 1990s, has long been a polarizing figure. Though acquitted in a 2006 murder case, Sharma faced arrest in 2020 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his purported ties to gangster Dawood Ibrahim. His post-retirement ventures, including real estate and hospitality businesses, have drawn scrutiny for rapid wealth accumulation.
Jagdish Patil, a 1989-batch IAS officer, retired in 2022 after serving in key roles, including Mumbai’s municipal commissioner. He has been embroiled in multiple land scam allegations, including illegal allotment of tribal lands in Thane and approvals for high-profile builder projects during his tenure. The I-T department suspects Patil amassed assets disproportionate to his known income through kickbacks from developers.
Broader Implications
The raids underscore the I-T department’s focus on dismantling organized networks enabling black money circulation in real estate. A senior official stated, “This is not just about tax evasion but a systemic rot where bureaucrats, police, and builders collude to bypass laws.” The probe also examines potential political links, with whispers of a high-profile Maharashtra leader’s involvement.
What’s Next?
Forensic analysis of seized documents is underway to establish paper trails of illicit transactions. If evidence confirms benami holdings or tax fraud, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) may initiate a parallel money laundering probe. Sharma and Patil could face prosecution under the Benami Transactions Act and Income Tax Act, which carry severe penalties, including asset confiscation and imprisonment.
Reactions
While Sharma and Patil remain silent, allies dismiss the raids as “political vendetta.” Opposition leaders, however, demand a CBI inquiry, alleging deeper collusion between the ruling dispensation and tainted officials.
The raids signal a tightening noose around Maharashtra’s shadowy real estate ecosystem, but whether this leads to convictions or fades into yet another unresolved scandal remains to be seen.
