Published Jun 11, 2026 | 3:16 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 11, 2026 | 3:16 PM
Mahendra Makhijani
Synopsis: Mahendra Makhijani was a “criminal”, First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said. If convicted, he faces 30 years in jail.
A 44-year-old Indian businessman in the US, slapped already with a $1.34-billion court rap for defrauding another businessman in a real-estate deal, was arrested on Wednesday for falsifying documents to clinch a $100-million loan.
Mahender Makhijani, who owned multi-million dollar homes in Corona del Mar—an exclusive neighbourhood in Newport Beach, California—according to the New York Post, allegedly used the money “to fund private jets, a fleet of supercars and sex-fuelled mega parties”.
“As alleged, Makhijani falsified title insurance records, concealed true lien positions, and used a network of shell companies to mislead a federally insured bank out of nearly $100 million,” stated Darren Lian, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation’s Los Angeles Field Office.
Makhijani was also accused by complainants of making grave threats.
“Makhijani was an intimidating individual and told me he kept a gun strapped to his ankle,” an investor in Makhijani’s Newport Beach-based firm Cantor Group V stated in the criminal complaint that led to the arrest. “On at least one occasion, he told me that his father taught him to kill his enemies, which I perceived as a threatening message.”
Another businessman, involved in the joint venture that blew up into the dispute where the court ordered $1.34 billion to be paid, recounted a conversation where Makhijani wanted him to withdraw his demand for the “books and records”.
“If I don’t do that, he’s going to destroy my reputation in Laguna. He’s going to make sure my kids and my grandkids are on the street. He’s going to make my life miserable. That’s what he said,” the ex-partner identified as Mohammad Honarkar said in the complaint.
“When criminals are allowed to deceive lenders, the spillover effects can harm consumers and businesses,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli.
He alleged Makhijani had gamed the system.
“Makhijani falsified title policies from September 2024 to April 2025 to make it appear Cantor held first-lien positions when other creditors were ahead. He and a subordinate forged documents in Adobe, altered metadata, and submitted the falsified records to the victim bank, while also providing misleading explanations during calls and in spreadsheets,” Essayli stated.
Makhijani was accused of possessing “significant assets” in India.
“Agents have seen large dollar amounts wired from bank accounts in the United States that agents believe Makhijani controls to bank accounts in India in his name,” the criminal complaint noted.
Makhijani, an Indian national and US permanent resident, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
