Detectives from Victoria Police's Taskforce Echo raided an $18 million Brighton mansion occupied by Finks national president Mark Balsillie on November 6, hours after two masked men fired 10 shots at an Arcare aged care facility in Maidstone, following a campaign of violence against property developer Simon Pitard and his family's aged care empire.
The police raid also followed the firebombing of Pitard's Brighton property on October 27, when two luxury cars were destroyed, and the firebombing of a Cheltenham townhouse the next day that left an innocent 52-year-old woman with serious burns in a case of mistaken identity, which is also under investigation.
Detectives carried out firearm prohibition order compliance searches at five other properties in Narre Warren North, Safety Beach, Mount Eliza and Dallas as part of the November 6 blitz on the Finks, but no arrests were made. This story does not suggest Balsillie is involved in the campaign of violence against Pitard. The Age reported that he did not respond to its requests for comment.
The Age reported that land title records identify the mansion's registered owner as property developer Pankaj "Harry" Goyal, whose construction company Harcon Projects built the four-level home, replete with rooftop garden, indoor pool, sauna and climate-controlled cellar.
The Age reported that Goyal had allowed Balsillie access to an $800,000 blue Ferrari Purosangue, but Goyal denied the bikie had ever driven his car. Goyal confirmed to The Age that he owned the Brighton property but did not respond to repeated questions about his arrangement with Balsillie. He said Balsillie "might be living" in the mansion, but "is definitely not on the lease". "I've got another 100 [properties]. So what has that got to do with me?" Goyal said. The Age said it did not suggest any wrongdoing by Goyal or any involvement with the Finks.
Balsillie, 42, is the son of retired police officer Andrew Balsillie, who served more than 40 years with Victoria Police and helped uncover a drug lab run by slain gangland figure Carl Williams. He originally joined the Comancheros, rising rapidly through the ranks, and later defected to the Mongols before taking over the leadership of the Finks in 2024. Last Friday, Victoria Police said it had created a specialist taskforce made up of officers from Taskforce Echo, Operation Phoenix and the Viper Taskforce to target the gang. "My message to the Finks ... is very clear: if you choose to continue your involvement in serious and organised crime, Victoria Police is coming after you," Detective Superintendent Wayne Cheesman said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The raids and shootings signal an escalation in organised crime violence in Melbourne, directly targeting an aged care facility and a property developer's home, raising public safety and community concern.
- The investigation into the mansion's ownership and loan application highlights potential links between underworld figures and the legitimate property market, with implications for financial crime enforcement.
- Victoria Police's creation of a specialist taskforce to target the Finks underscores the priority given to dismantling the gang, which has rapidly expanded by recruiting former Comanchero members.
Background
Mark Balsillie has held senior roles in three outlaw motorcycle gangs over more than a decade. In 2016 he pleaded guilty to extortion and possessing counterfeit money, and in 2022 he pleaded guilty to possessing and trafficking cocaine. He survived a murder attempt in 2017 when he was shot seven times by a former Comanchero associate. Pankaj "Harry" Goyal is a self-described migrant who claims to have built a billion-dollar property empire from humble beginnings as a taxi driver and dishwasher.
Key Perspectives
Detective Superintendent Wayne Cheesman (Victoria Police): "My message to the Finks ... is very clear: if you choose to continue your involvement in serious and organised crime, Victoria Police is coming after you."
Pankaj "Harry" Goyal (property developer): Denied Balsillie had driven his Ferrari and said Balsillie "might be living" in the mansion but "is definitely not on the lease". Of his many properties, he said: "So what has that got to do with me?" He confirmed involvement in the cemetery proposal but denied Balsillie had a role in the deal.
Five underworld and property industry sources (anonymous): Said Balsillie has lived in the mansion for six months and has told associates he was in the process of buying it from Goyal; also said Goyal and Balsillie were involved in a botched $95 million cemetery deal.
What to Watch
- The outcome of the 23-year-old associate's interview with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission next month over the $11 million loan application.
- Whether Victoria Police's new specialist taskforce makes arrests or lays charges in relation to the aged care shooting and firebombings.
- Any further escalation in violence between the Finks and those connected to property developer Simon Pitard.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedPolice raided an $18 million Brighton mansion occupied by Finks national president Mark Balsillie.WA Today - Latest News: “Police have raided an $18 million Brighton mansion occupied by a bikie boss following a campaign of violence against embattled property developer Simon Pitard and his family’s aged care empire.”
- SupportedThe raid happened on November 6, hours after two masked men fired 10 shots at an Arcare aged care facility in Maidstone.WA Today - Latest News: “Detectives from Taskforce Echo searched the luxury residence of Finks national president Mark Balsillie on November 6, just hours after two masked men fired 10 shots at an Arcare aged care facility in Maidstone.”
- SupportedThe raid followed a campaign of violence against property developer Simon Pitard and his family’s aged care empire.WA Today - Latest News: “Police have raided an $18 million Brighton mansion occupied by a bikie boss following a campaign of violence against embattled property developer Simon Pitard and his family’s aged care empire.”
- SupportedPolice searched five other properties in Narre Warren North, Safety Beach, Mount Eliza and Dallas, and made no arrests.WA Today - Latest News: “Detectives carried out firearm prohibition order compliance searches at another five properties in Narre Warren North, Safety Beach, Mount Eliza and Dallas as part of their November 6 blitz on the Finks, but no arrests were made.”
- SupportedThe Brighton property was firebombed on October 27, destroying two luxury cars; a Cheltenham townhouse was firebombed the next day, seriously burning an innocent 52-year-old woman in a case of mistaken identity.WA Today - Latest News: “The police raid also followed the firebombing of Pitard’s Brighton property on October 27 when two luxury cars were destroyed. On October 28, an innocent 52-year-old woman sustained serious burns when her Cheltenham townhouse was firebombed in a case of mistaken identity, which is also under investigation.”
- SupportedThe story says it does not suggest Balsillie was involved in the campaign of violence against Pitard.WA Today - Latest News: “This masthead does not suggest Balsillie is involved in the campaign of violence against Pitard.”
- SupportedLand title records identify Pankaj “Harry” Goyal as the mansion’s registered owner, and his company Harcon Projects built the four-level home.WA Today - Latest News: “According to land title records, the registered owner of the mansion is self-described taxi driver-turned-billionaire property developer Pankaj “Harry” Goyal, whose construction company Harcon Projects built the four-level home”
- SupportedGoyal allowed Balsillie access to an $800,000 blue Ferrari Purosangue, but denied Balsillie had ever driven it.WA Today - Latest News: “Goyal’s close connection with Balsillie has seen him allow the Finks president access to an $800,000 blue Ferrari Purosangue. ... Goyal ... denied the bikie had ever driven his car.”
- SupportedGoyal said Balsillie “might be living” in the mansion but “is definitely not on the lease”, and said, “I’ve got another 100 [properties]. So what has that got to do with me?”WA Today - Latest News: “He said Balsillie “might be living” in the mansion, but “is definitely not on the lease”. “I’ve got another 100 [properties]. So what has that got to do with me?” Goyal said.”
- SupportedBalsillie, 42, is the son of retired Victoria Police officer Andrew Balsillie, who served more than 40 years and helped uncover a drug lab run by Carl Williams.WA Today - Latest News: “The 42-year-old is the son of retired police officer Andrew Balsillie, who served more than 40 years with Victoria Police and helped uncover a drug lab run by slain gangland figure Carl Williams”
- SupportedBalsillie joined the Comancheros, later defected to the Mongols, and took over the Finks’ leadership in 2024.WA Today - Latest News: “Balsillie originally joined the Comancheros, and rapidly ascended to senior ranks within the gang. ... Balsillie later defected to the Mongols”
- SupportedVictoria Police said it had created a specialist taskforce involving Taskforce Echo, Operation Phoenix and the Viper Taskforce; Wayne Cheesman said police were coming after Finks members who continued serious and organised crime involvement.WA Today - Latest News: “Last Friday, Victoria Police said it had created a specialist taskforce made up of officers from Taskforce Echo, Operation Phoenix and the Viper Taskforce to target the gang. “My message to the Finks ... is very clear: if you choose to continue your involvement in serious and organised crime, Victoria Police is coming after you,” Detective Superintendent Wayne Cheesman said.”