As the investigation into a racist campaign flyer mailed to Edison residents just days before the 2017 election stretches into the fourth year, a report from the United States Postal Inspection Service is being blasted by the men named in it as inaccurate and politically motivated.

The list of men accused of helping send a flyer that said The Chinese and Indians are taking over our town reads like a whos-who of Edison Democrats, and includes a candidate featured on the flyer, a sitting council member, the former head of the local Democratic Party, and an apparent Board of Education member-elect.

Five of the men named in the report have denied having any part in or knowledge of the flyer, and a sixth person could not be reached for comment.

The origins of the flyer have been shrouded in mystery since they first landed in mailboxes around Edison in November 2017. Featuring pictures of then-Board of Education candidates Jerry Shi and Falguni Patel and the word deport stamped across them, local and state leaders decried them as racist and unacceptable.

But a recently released report by the United States Postal Inspection Service obtained by NJ Advance Media suggests that all those involved in sending the flyer are of Asian or Southeast Asian descent themselves, including Shi.

The Postal Inspectors report relies on testimony given by Chandrakant Patel, the owner of Chowpatty Restaurant and an active member of the Indian-American community.

The flyers were traced back to the restaurant after fingerprints belonging to an employee were identified on a flyer, the report says. The employee said he did help put labels on the flyers after being instructed to do so by Chandrakant Patel, the report says, but denied knowing what they were.

During a September 2020 interview, Chandrakant Patel told investigators that the flyers were assembled in his restaurant after Satish Poondi, a local lawyer and delegate for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee for Democratic President-Elect Joe Biden, had asked to use the space. This request didnt raise any alarms because Chowpatty is occasionally used as a cultural hub, Chandrakant Patel said.

Chandrakant Patel did not respond to a message left at Chowpatty seeking comment, and could not be reached via email on Monday. Poondi declined to comment when contacted by phone Monday morning, saying he had not yet read a full copy of the postal inspectors report.

In addition to Poondi, Chandrakant Patel told investigators several men were involved:

Shi has repeatedly denied any involvement in sending the flyer.

This is ridiculous, they (the Committee of the Whole) have been doing this every single year right around election time, primary and general election, Shi said on Thursday, accusing the committee of bringing the issue into the spotlight only during election seasons.

The report was read out loud during a Thursday night Committee of the Whole meeting held at the Edison Municipal Building, before those named had read the report, several men told NJ Advance Media. (A Committee of the Whole is a special committee with limited subpoena powers convened for an investigatory purpose.)

Postal Inspector David Comer was set to testify, before the United State Postal Service Inspection Service attorney declined his participation, Edison Councilman Bob Diehl said during the meeting. Its not clear why Comer was not allowed to testify.

The Attorney Generals Office, which NJ Advance Media has confirmed is also investigating the flyers, has repeatedly declined to confirm or deny an investigation.

Councilman Ajay Patil met with postal officials and fellow council members Thursday morning ahead of receiving the report, Diehl said, and corroborated the names in the report.

Patil said he was at the restaurant and remembered seeing something happening, but denied having any role in sending the flyers.

I might have been at the wrong place at the wrong time but I have no relevance with this racist flyer and I strongly believe with further interviews something else will come out about this, Patil, who was the only council member to attend the meeting virtually, said at the end of the meeting.

Patil later walked back those claims in an email sent to councilman Diehl and councilman Alvaro Gomez, and reviewed by NJ Advance Media.

At no point ever have I seen Shariq Ahmad, Mohin Patel, Jerry Shi, Mahesh Bhagia, and Satish Poondi in Chowpatty, handling any of the flyers in question, or carrying stamps for those flyers, Patil wrote in an email Friday afternoon, adding that he saw some type of flyer being prepared in the restaurant but did not see what it said and left immediately.

Patil has not responded to several phone calls or an email seeking comment.

Mohin Patel, who appears likely to win his Edison Board of Education race, denied the report, telling NJ Advance Media the claims are patently false and defamatory, adding he was never contacted by inspectors or any other investigators.

This episode has tarnished Edisons good name and caused pain and anguish for many. I implore you to terminate this Committee and bring an end to this fruitless campaign to smear the names of many good Edison residents, Mohin Patel wrote in a letter sent to Council President Joyce Ship-Freeman and provided to NJ Advance Media.

Ahmad told NJ Advance Media that postal inspectors who contacted him claimed to be investigating identity theft for his bank, not the flyers. Once postal inspectors admitted the identity theft angle was a ruse to discuss something else, Ahmad referred questions to his lawyer and declined to be interviewed. He only later realized they were attempting to discuss the flyers, Ahmad said.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Ahmad denied any involvement in the flyers and said he never participated in any flyer assembly event at Chowpatty.

Both Patel and Ahmad said Chandrakant Patels statements given to Postal Inspectors were politically motivated and false.

While those who spoke to NJ Advance Media painted the investigation as a baseless political attack and decried the release of the report during election season, Council President Joyce Ship-Freeman said the Committee of the Whole meeting was purposefully held after election day to avoid impacting the election.

A woman who identified herself as Bhagias wife declined to provide Bhagias phone number when reached by phone Monday morning; Bhagia did not return a message seeking comment.

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Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

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Investigation into racist campaign flyers is politically motivated, men accused of sending them say - NJ.com