Kolkata, Jan 8: A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Wednesday, directed the state police to provide 24-hour protection to the woman, who had earlier this week approached the court accusing the local cops of a lackadaisical investigation into her complaint of gang-rape against three men, including a local Trinamool Congress leader.

At the same time, the single judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta also directed the local police station to submit a report in the form of an affidavit on the progress of the investigation into the woman’s complaint by January 12.

The state government counsel, on Wednesday, informed the court that there had been significant progress in the investigation of the matter and the process was on to file the charge sheet in the case. However, the victim’s counsel claimed that although the accused was constantly threatening her and her family members, there had been no action on the part of the local police.

Thereafter Justice Sengupta directed the state police to provide 24-hour police protection not only to the victim but the entire family besides asking the state police to file a progress report investigation.

In her petition, the victim alleged that the crime took place in May last year, and she and her family members approached the local police to act on the matter. She has now alleged that for all these months the cops have not moved an inch forward in the course of the investigation. At the same time, she and her family members are under pressure from the accused and their associates to withdraw the complaint at the local police station.

Among the three accused named one is Trinamool Congress’ block president in Sandeshkhali Dilip Mondal. Calcutta High Court had admitted the petition.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a yearend trip to Sandeshkhali on December 30, after avoiding such an initiative during the entire period of crisis there earlier this year following allegations of sexual harassment of local women and land grabbing of people by local Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan.

While addressing a public meeting at Sandeshkhali on that day, the Chief Minister hinted towards the “money game” influencing the movement by locals there earlier this year.

On that very day, leader of opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhujari conducted a protest at the same place, defying the last-minute denial of police permission for the same. He drew a comparison between Mamata Banerjee and the chief of the caretaker government in neighbouring Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus.

Wayanad, Jan 8: Jewellery magnate Boby Chemmanur was taken into custody by Kerala police on Wednesday morning from his resort in Wayanad following a complaint lodged by popular actress Honey Rose.

Rose accused Chemmanur of using derogatory language against her, an incident she disclosed had occurred four months ago.

Wayanad Superintendent of Police Taposh Basumathary confirmed Chemmanur’s detention and said the probe team handling the case would take him to Kochi for questioning.

Currently, Chemmanur is held at the Wayanad police camp and is expected to be transferred to the Kochi Central Police station later in the day.

The swift action took many by surprise, particularly as Chemmanur was reportedly in the process of securing anticipatory bail.

On Tuesday, Honey Rose publicly revealed her decision to file a police complaint, describing the incident as deeply disturbing for her and her family.

She shared her experience on social media, where she also warned Chemmanur that she would extend her complaint to his close associates if necessary.

Rose had earlier narrated the incident on social media without naming Chemmanur, which resulted in intensified cyberattacks against her. Police have since arrested around two dozen people involved in these attacks.

The actress, who made her acting debut in the 2005 Malayalam film Boyy Friennd, gained widespread recognition with the 2012 film ‘Trivandrum Lodge’. She is now a highly sought-after figure in the entertainment industry, particularly for public events.

Boby Chemmanur is the chairman of the Chemmanur International Group, a sprawling business conglomerate. He is well-known for his association with late football legend Diego Maradona, whom he brought to Kerala in 2012.

Chemmanur has often made headlines for his unconventional ventures, including a record-breaking 812 km marathon in April 2014, aimed at raising awareness about blood donation. This initiative led to the creation of the world’s largest blood bank, inspiring approximately 1.4 million blood donations.

As the investigation unfolds, the allegations have cast a shadow on Chemmanur’s reputation, which has been built over decades of high-profile activities and philanthropic efforts.

Mumbai: A massive investment scam by the foreign-based Torres Jewelry company has left over 1.25 lakh investors defrauded of ₹1,000 crore. The company, which promised high returns on jewelry and diamond investments, has collapsed, with its directors shifting the blame to Indian executives. The Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) has taken over the investigation, and an FIR under the Maharashtra Protection of Depositors Act and various BNS sections has been registered.

Three individuals—Sarvesh Ashok Surve, Tanya Casatova, and Valentina Kumar—have been arrested, while the alleged masterminds, Ukrainian nationals John Carter and Victoria Kowalenko, fled the country. Lookout Circulars (LOCs) have been issued for their arrest. Torres Company launched operations in Mumbai in February 2024, opening a flagship showroom in Dadar and branches in Navi Mumbai, Kalyan, Borivali, and Mira Road. The company offered an alluring investment plan.

Investors purchased jewelry or moissanite diamonds and received official receipts. A digital account and unique customer ID were created for each investor. A weekly return of 6% was promised, amounting to triple the investment value over 52 weeks.

Sarvesh Surve, a local resident with no prior business credentials, was appointed as the director to provide a local face to the foreign venture. Surve’s digital signatures were used for all official documents, while John Carter and Victoria Kowalenko controlled operations from the shadows. Tanya Casatova, an Uzbek national, managed stores, and Valentina Kumar, a Russian citizen married to an Indian, oversaw retail operations.

Police sources revealed that Surve was unaware of the larger conspiracy, making him a convenient scapegoat. Before fulfilling the promised 52-week term, Torres stopped payments in December 2024, citing technical issues. On January 1, 2025, the company abruptly shut down its showrooms.

When irate investors gathered outside the Dadar office on January 6, Tanya and Valentina were confronted and detained by Shivaji Park police. Surve was also arrested. Preliminary investigations estimate that over 1.25 lakh investors were defrauded, based on the highest customer ID numbers issued. The total fraud amount could exceed ₹1,000 crore. Police stations in Shivaji Park, APMC (Navi Mumbai), and Mira Road witnessed long queues of investors filing complaints, with many FIRs registered in just two days.

Authorities are now coordinating with international agencies to apprehend Carter and Kowalenko. Meanwhile, the EOW has urged investors to file complaints to strengthen the case.