New Delhi, Aug 28: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has confirmed the arrest of wanted accused Sagar Mehta in connection with the Rs 177 crore money laundering case linked to the alleged Torres Jewellers Ponzi scheme in Dubai.

Mehta’s lawyer approached the court seeking withdrawal of the proclamation proceedings initiated against him at the ED’s request. The court was informed that Mehta had been arrested on Thursday by Dubai authorities following the execution of a Red Corner Notice issued at the request of the Indian agency.

Mehta is a key accused in the case and is alleged to have played a role in collecting and transferring the proceeds of the alleged fraud. The ED informed the special PMLA court that he had been arrested after remaining on the run for several months.

The court had earlier issued non-bailable warrants against Mehta and three Ukrainian nationals — Olena Stoian, Oleksandr Zapichenko and Viktoria Kovalenko. According to investigators, Zapichenko and Stoian allegedly helped design the financial structure and money-laundering mechanisms of the scheme. They are also accused of arranging initial funds through illicit channels and facilitating the conversion of unaccounted money into apparently legitimate investments.

The Torres Jewellers case relates to allegations that the company operated a fraudulent investment scheme by marketing synthetic moissanite as precious gemstones and promising investors unusually high returns.

According to the prosecution, Platinum Hern Pvt Ltd (PHPL), which operated Torres Jewellers, allegedly attracted investors by offering lucrative returns and rewards. The company reportedly promised weekly returns of between 2 per cent and 9 per cent on investments in gold, silver, diamond jewellery and precious gemstones.

The ED has further alleged that investors were offered a 20 per cent “investment bonus” for bringing new participants into the scheme, creating a referral-based structure.

Investigators have alleged that the operation relied on misleading advertisements, attractive bonuses and unrealistic return promises to draw investors, characteristics commonly associated with Ponzi schemes.

The prosecution has alleged that Mehta was involved in the fraudulent operation but fled India on December 24, 2024. His arrest in Dubai is expected to be significant for the ongoing investigation into the alleged money-laundering network and the movement of funds linked to the case.

Amaravati, Aug 28: Seven fishermen from Andhra Pradesh, who went missing at sea early this month, safely returned home on Friday, officials said.

The fishermen from Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, who had ventured into the sea for fishing on August 3 and subsequently went missing, reached Kakinada.

The fishermen, who were found safe near Shankarpur fishing harbour off the West Bengal coast on Wednesday, had a happy reunion with their families after 25 days.

Officials brought the fishermen back from West Bengal; MLA V. Kondababu, MLC Rajashekhar and district officials received the fishermen.

The fishermen set sail on a mechanised boat from Odalrevu fish landing point on August 3 but lost contact with their families four days later after they went deep-sea fishing off the Andhra coast in search of tuna.

The fishermen were scheduled to return on August 12, and as they did not come back, families became anxious and approached the authorities.

A massive search operation was launched in the Bay of Bengal for the missing fishermen.

On Tuesday, the search operation was intensified with the deployment of 15 Coast Guard vessels and four helicopters.

An extensive search operation was conducted in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the Navy, and other relevant departments, with support from the Central government.

On Wednesday afternoon, local fishermen near the Shankarpur fishing harbour off the West Bengal coast found the boat with the missing fishermen on board.

They gave a cellphone to the missing fishermen, who spoke to their family members in Andhra Pradesh, confirming that they were safe.

The fishermen said that they were stranded at sea after the boat engine developed a technical snag.

The fishermen on board the missing boat were identified as Kopanathi Ramakrishna, Kollati Yesudasu, Palepu Santa Rao, Kollati Srinubabu, Karri Rambabu, Sangani Tatarao and Kataadi Satish Kumar.

The fishermen said they survived without food for more than three days in the sea before reaching the West Bengal coast.

New Delhi, Aug 28: The Delhi Police Special Cell has busted a Pakistan-based espionage network that used Indian SIM cards, procured through local contacts, to access WhatsApp groups and allegedly gather sensitive information, officials said on Friday.

The Special Cell’s Northern Range arrested a Delhi-based couple, Mohammad Sahil and his wife, Sameera, for working with Pakistani intelligence operatives since 2024. Police said the couple was also tasked with recruiting people for reconnaissance of cantonment areas at different locations in India.

According to investigators, the network procured Indian SIM cards through local contacts and sent them to Pakistan via Dubai. The SIM cards were used there to activate WhatsApp accounts, which Pakistani intelligence operatives subsequently used to gain access to Indian WhatsApp groups and approach Indian users for sensitive information.

Police said eight Indian SIM cards were sent to Pakistan through Dubai during 2024 and 2025. The couple was reportedly paid around Rs 30,000 by Pakistani handlers for the cards.

The case came to light after the Special Cell received information about an ISI-backed Pakistani intelligence operative network active in Delhi-NCR. A team led by Inspectors Anuj Nautiyal and Chandan Kumar, under the supervision of ACP Rahul Kumar Singh, developed the intelligence and identified the alleged local links.

Sahil was arrested from Sarai Kale Khan. During the forensic examination of his mobile phone, police found incriminating conversations with Pakistani agents.

During interrogation, Sahil allegedly told investigators that he came in contact with a Pakistani agent on Instagram in 2024 through Sameera, whom he later married. The agent subsequently introduced the couple to a Pakistani intelligence operative, who allegedly recruited them into the network after promising financial benefits.

Police said Sahil and Sameera provided logistical support to the network and were asked to recruit additional individuals for espionage-related activities and field operations.

Sahil was assigned to recruit people for reconnaissance of cantonment areas and gather details about Army personnel whose court-martial proceedings were pending before tribunals.

Following Sahil’s interrogation, police arrested Sameera, who said that she played a key role in arranging and supplying Indian SIM cards to the Pakistani handlers.

Two mobile phones used in the activities were recovered. Their forensic examination reportedly revealed WhatsApp chats and other conversations between the couple and Pakistani handlers.

Police said interrogation of the accused provided insights into the alleged modus operandi of the Pakistan-based operatives and their coordination with local contacts through digital communication platforms.

The Special Cell said the operation helped disrupt the alleged espionage activities of the Pakistan-based network and uncover its local support structure in Delhi-NCR.