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.

New Delhi, Jan 7: Children and elderly with cold and cough must stay at home to prevent the spread of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory illness currently seeing an uptick in the country, said former AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria, on Tuesday.

Speaking to media, Guleria, Chairman, Institute of Internal Medicine, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Medanta Gurugram, said that prevention is most important.

“If the child has fever, cold, and cough, the child should stay at home for at least 5 to 7 days, so that the child does not give the infection to others in the school,” he said.

He also recommended schools issue advisory to parents to not send such children to school, which can then also spread to the elderly.

So far, seven cases of HMPV — Karnataka (2), Gujarat (1), and Tamil Nadu (2) have been reported. All the cases were detected in young children ranging from 3 months old to 13 years old.

Guleria urged for following public health measures like regular handwashing and, the use of masks, which can protect from other respiratory illnesses like flu.

“I think the lessons we learned from, Covid are something that everyone should follow, especially during this time, because this will protect you not only from the HMPV but even from Covid or other influenza-related viruses.

“Covid appropriate behaviour such as wearing a mask, regular hand washing, cough etiquettes like covering your cough. If you don’t have a tissue or a handkerchief cover your cough/sneeze in your arm or elbow so that you don’t spread the infection, avoid going to crowded places,” the noted pulmonologist told media.

Guleria said that the virus is not new and causes only mild infection in young children and elderly persons. He added the infection is self-limiting and must not be treated with antibiotics but with proper hydration and nutrition.

Meanwhile, Union Minister JP Nadda, in a video message, said that the HMPV is not a new virus.

“It was first identified in 2001 and has been circulating in the entire world since many years, It spreads through the air by the way of respiration. This can affect persons of all age groups. The virus spreads more during the winter and the early spring months,” said the Union Minister.

The Health Ministry, the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), and the National Centre for Disease Control are keeping a close watch on the situation in China, as well as in neighbouring countries, Nadda assured.

“There is no reason to worry. We are closely monitoring the situation,” he added.

Hyderabad, Jan 7: High tension prevailed in Nampally area here after BJP and Congress cadres clashed during a protest by the latter against BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri’s unsavoury remark about Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi in the national Capital recently during a poll rally.

Protesting against the BJP leader’s “smooth roads like Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks” remark, Youth Congress workers tried to lay siege to the BJP office.

The situation turned tense after BJP workers present there launched a counter-attack.

The protestors pelted stones on the BJP office while the BJP cadres attacked them with sticks. A few workers were injured in the clash.

Police personnel rushed to the spot and dispersed the clashing groups.

Later, BJP Yuva Morcha workers tried to lay siege to Congress headquarters Gandhi Bhavan, triggering more tension. They reached the Congress office in two groups to stage a protest.

They removed barricades to advance towards Gandhi Bhavan and tore off flexis of Congress leaders erected at the entrance. Several BJP leaders joined the Yuva Morcha in the protest. Protesting against the attack on the party office and raising slogans, the BJP workers sat on the road, throwing traffic out of gear.

Police swung into action, resorted to baton charge and arrested scores of protestors. They were whisked away in police vehicles.

As the offices of both parties are located not far from each other, the police had a tough time in controlling the cadres from both sides.

Police sealed the routes leading to the BJP office.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Coal and Mines and state BJP president G. Kishan Reddy has condemned the attack on the BJP office. He warned that if the Congress party does not desist from such actions, this would have serious consequences.

Kishan Reddy alleged that the Congress cadres attacked the BJP office in the presence of police. He said that there is no room for violence in a democracy.

Alleging that the police acted with bias, he asked the Hyderabad Police Commissioner how would he justify the police action.