Mumbai: Lyricist's kin questioned in Ponzi schemer cheating case

The police, on Tuesday, extensively questioned Irfan Jaipuri in Ponzi schemer Shekhar Chandrashekhar's attempt to dupe the Bombay High Court by impersonating the secretary of a cabinet minister. Irfan is the son of Nasir Jaipuri, who is the nephew of legendary Bollywood lyricist Hasrat Jaipuri.

Ponzi schemer Shekhar Chandrashekhar

The police said the phone number that Chandrashekhar used while threatening the HC's court receiver to stall proceedings to benefit a Santacruz businessman, belongs to Irfan. Chandrashekhar used the same number to call another arrested accused Dr Mahendra Wadiwala as well, they said.

Irfan was questioned for nearly three hours by the Azad Maidan police on Tuesday.

"We are trying to find out if Irfan had knowledge of Chandrashekhar's intentions before giving his phone to him. His role is being ascertained in the case," a police officer said, requesting anonymity.

Irfan's father Nasir and Chandrashekhar were arrested by the Economic Offences Wing last year for allegedly duping 500 investors of R19 crore through Ponzi schemes. As Irfan's father Nasir was Chandrashekhar's friend, he used to regularly meet Chandrashekhar at Rajawadi Hospital.

Sources said that from the hospital, Chandrashekhar had conned many people by impersonating important people over the phone. In the Bombay HC case, apart from Chandrashekhar, the police have arrested Santacruz businessman Navinchandra Hegde and Dr Wadiwala, who is BMC's now suspended chief medical superintendent of 18-peripheral hospitals. Chandrashekhar was arrested earlier in the case, while Hegde and Dr Wadiwala are in police custody. They will be produced in court today.