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.

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.

Ahmedabad, Aug 28: Gujarat’s Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) has seized cosmetics and related material worth more than Rs 2.68 lakh from a firm in Ahmedabad’s Tragad area after finding that products were allegedly being manufactured and repackaged without the required licence and quality testing.

Acting on confidential information, an FDCA team carried out surprise checking at ‘Aanki Herbal’ on August 25.

According to the department, the firm was manufacturing cosmetics and repackaging products from bulk packs without obtaining the necessary licence or conducting quality tests.

Officials seized stocks including fairness cream, dark-circle cream, shampoo, hair oil, body wash, face wash, scrub, solid perfume and glycerine-based soap.

Raw material, packing material and printed labels were also seized, taking the total value of the material to more than Rs 2.68 lakh.

The department’s investigation found that bulk material used in the activity was allegedly purchased from ‘Ravi Marketing’ in Odhav area of Ahmedabad.

“Cosmetics were repackaged and glycerine soap manufactured illegally at a flat in Shivanta Regal,” the department said.

The investigation has been extended to Ravi Marketing. FDCA officials also collected samples of 10 different cosmetic products from the premises and sent them to a laboratory for analysis to assess their quality.

The action comes as the state Food and Drug Regulatory Administration steps up enforcement against unauthorised cosmetic manufacturing and repackaging.

The department said further legal action would be taken against activities found to compromise public health and safety.

Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said: “The government would maintain a ‘zero tolerance’ approach towards such activities and continue strict legal action against those found violating regulations.”

Separately, the Ahmedabad City Crime Branch and FDCA have busted an interstate syndicate allegedly involved in manufacturing, procuring and distributing counterfeit blood-pressure medicines, with three people arrested from Ahmedabad and Lucknow.

The investigation began after a pharmaceutical company based in Ankleshwar alerted the FDCA about counterfeit versions of Nicardia Retard 10, a nifedipine sustained-release medicine used for high blood pressure, being sold in the market.

Investigators traced suspected counterfeit stock to medical stores and agencies in Gujarat and identified links to suppliers in Lucknow and Jaipur.

Thirty strips of the suspected counterfeit medicine were recovered from Kishan Medical Store in Nadiad, while further stock was recovered from Navkar Medical Agency and Mahadev Medical Agency in Bhuj, according to the investigation.

The Kutch supply was allegedly linked to AVR Medicos in Jaipur. The three arrested accused were identified as Dashil Sanghavi, 39, of Ahmedabad, and Devendra Yadav, 39, and Umang Rastogi, 34, both from Lucknow.

A case has been registered with the Crime Branch as the investigation continuing.

Pansheriya congratulated the Ahmedabad City Police Commissioner and personnel of the Crime Branch and FDCA for the operation.