Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Commissioner of Mumbai Police to provide protection to Mumbai-based chartered accountant Abhishek Gupta, 31, who claims to have exposed the Rs 1000 crore Torres Jewellery fraud, after being informed that the police are still verifying whether there is any threat perception to Gupta. The jewellery chain is accused of defrauding over 1.25 lakh investors of Rs 1,000 crore across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

A bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela Gokhale also expressed “shock” over the manner in which the Mumbai police and “specialised agency” Economic Offence Wing (EOW) dragged their feet in the probe thereby giving opportunity to the foreign national accused to flee. “We are shocked at the manner in which the investigation is progressing… Somewhere, the police are responsible. They had so much information,” the bench remarked.

Gupta, who audited the accounts of Platinum Hern Pvt Ltd, the parent entity behind Torres, alleged that he is a “vulnerable witness” at risk of being eliminated by those behind the scam. He claimed that two of the company’s directors Sarvesh Surve and Taufiq Riaz (alias John Carter); and an employee Laxmi Yadav had warned the police about the alleged scam way back in June 2024. However, the police took cognisance only on January 2.

Gupta’s advocate, Ranjit Sangle, informed the court that the petitioner received threats on messenger app, Telegram, and that his photos are being circulated in Tilak Nagar, falsely identifying him as a wanted accused. “I received a photo of myself sitting in a Deputy Commissioner’s office, which is being shared to mislead people,” Gupta said.

On a court query, State’s advocate Prajakta Shinde said they were awaiting a report on threat perception to Gupta. The court said, “Till then, we will direct you to grant police protection. Someone is exposing your fault. You are lax in your actions.” It also emphasized the importance of protecting whistleblowers, cautioning, “If someone is giving you all this information, don’t make them a scapegoat.”

While the EOW has arrested three directors, including Sarvesh Surve, Tania Kastova, and Valentina Kumar, the Ukrainian nationals John Carter and Victoria Kovalenko remain at large. The EOW admitted that Lookout Circulars (LOCs) were issued only on January 10, four days after an FIR was registered on January 6.

The EOw claimed that they have taken steps to recover the amounts from the accused, and have managed to recover Rs 25 crore, to this, the bench quipped: “That is not even one percent of scam,” while asking the police to apprehend the accused.

When informed that the accused have similar cases pending against them in Turkey and Ukraine, the bench said that under which circumstances they were unlikely to flee to Ukraine. “Have you found out whether they have left the country?” the bench asked.

The bench also criticized the agency for failing to secure crucial evidence such as CCTV footage. “This is a specialized agency. We expect promptness; otherwise, the accused will flee. Obtain CCTV footage from the company’s offices, hotels where the accused stayed, and the Police Commissioner’s office,” it ordered.

The court summoned the Assistant Commissioner of Police via video conference on January 22 and directed officers from Shivaji Park, APMC, and Navghar police stations to remain present at the next hearing.

“Because you can’t find somebody, don’t make someone else a scapegoat. You must ensure prompt and proper investigation,” the court concluded.

The scheme, masterminded by foreign nationals, offered investors exorbitant returns of 4% to 10% per week and annual profits of up to 520%. The scam unraveled when investors protested outside a Torres store in Dadar, demanding their refunds.

The EOW has taken over the investigation and registered an FIR under the Maharashtra Protection of Depositors Act and other laws. While three directors—Sarvesh Surve, Tania Kastova, and Valentina Kumar—have been arrested, Ukrainian nationals John Carter and Victoria Kovalenko have fled the country. Lookout Circulars (LOCs) have been issued for their arrest.

Kolkata, Jan 15: The initial post-mortem report of Mamoni Ruidas, the woman who died at a state-run medical college and hospital in West Midnapore district on January 10 after being allegedly administered with expired Ringer’s Lactate, has hinted towards multi-organ failure and septicemia being the preliminary reasons behind her death.

Sources aware of the development said the initial post-mortem report has also pointed out the existence of toxic body fluid within her body. This particular point has raised the question of whether besides saline the victim was also administered with oxytocin to keep the impact of the toxic body fluid under control.

Already two parallel probes are being conducted in the matter, the first by a committee formed by the state health department and the second by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state police.

Last week five women had fallen sick at the said state-run medical college and hospital in West Midnapore district allegedly after being administered with expired Ringer’s lactate. One of the women died in the hospital. The other four women were then kept under treatment at the critical care unit and intensive care units of the same hospital.

Three of them had to be shifted to state-run S.S.K.M Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata following sharp deteriorations in their medical conditions.

The incident raised serious concerns, especially as the expired RL saline allegedly came from Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical Limited, a company earlier banned by the Karnataka government and later by the West Bengal government.

Following this, the state health department directed the medical superintendents-cum-vice principals of all medical colleges and hospitals and all the chief medical officers of the districts “to ensure total stoppage of the existing stock of Compound Sodium Lactate Injection (RL) supplied by Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd in his/her jurisdiction.

Later, the state government also directed the removal of stocks of all medicines supplied by the said company from all healthcare entities in the state.

This incident has revived concerns over similar cases in the state’s healthcare system.

Notably, in a recent case of financial irregularities at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, its former principal, Sandip Ghosh, was accused of encouraging the use of expired and ineffective drugs on patients for personal financial gains.

Pathanamthitta (Kerala), Jan 14: The Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the repeated sexual assault of a teenage girl in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district, has arrested 44 people so far, its chief Ajitha Begum said on Tuesday.

“There are two accused who are now abroad and another 13 more who have to be arrested. The investigation is going in a fast-paced manner and all will be arrested at the earliest,” the SIT chief said.

On Tuesday, the victim’s statement was recorded before a magistrate near here.

The SIT has started proceedings for issuance of a red corner notice to ensure the two accused who are abroad are brought back here.

So far 31 cases have been registered across five police stations. The victim, reportedly assaulted by 59 people, has disclosed shocking details that have led to significant progress in the investigation.

The long list of the accused was traced by the SIT by analysing the victim’s diary and her father’s mobile phone, which she had been using.

The arrested individuals include three minors and four students preparing for their Class 12 final examinations next month. Most of the arrested are aged between 17 and 28.

According to the victim’s statement, she was exploited at various locations, including secluded rubber plantations, vehicles, and other spots within the district.

The assaults reportedly began when she was 13 years old and were perpetrated by acquaintances, coaches, senior sportsmen, and others, exploiting her role as a sportswoman. She was taken to various locations in vehicles and subjected to abuse.

The case came to light during a counselling session organized by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) after her teachers reported behavioural changes in her. During the session, she disclosed the extent of her abuse. The CWC then referred the case to the Pathanamthitta district police chief. FIRs have been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The case has drawn widespread attention, reminiscent of other high-profile sexual assault cases in Kerala, including the Suryanelli, Vithura, and Kozhikode incidents.