Jaipur, Aug 28: The Rajasthan Police have solved the murder mystery surrounding the death of an elderly couple in Punavali village, under the Saira police station area. According to police, the crime was committed with the intention of robbing the couple.

The alleged mastermind was their neighbour, Kushal alias Khushi Paliwal.

Five accused have been arrested, while a sixth suspect has been detained. Police have also recovered the vehicle allegedly used in the crime.

According to District Superintendent of Police Amrita Duhan, the deceased, Lahrilal Paliwal and his wife, Radhabai, lived in Punavali.

On the night of August 11, their son, Manohar Lal, who lives in Gujarat, spoke to Radhabai over the phone. When the couple could not be found at home the following day, relatives and others began searching for them. On August 14, their bodies were found inside a storage chest, or bedding box, kept in the house.

Police investigation revealed that Kushal had allegedly been planning the crime for around a year and a half. Police said he had taken loans from individuals and banks and was struggling to repay them. Facing financial difficulties, he allegedly decided to target the couple, knowing that they often lived alone and kept jewellery and cash at home. On August 9, Kushal allegedly arrived in Punavali with his associates Chandan Yadav, Vikas Kharwad, and Dilip Chaudhary.

The group reportedly conducted a recce of the couple’s house and the surrounding area. Afterwards, they travelled via Gogunda towards Panariyo Madri. On their return, they stayed at a hotel near the Gogunda toll plaza, where police said they finalised their plan.

Kushal allegedly later involved his cousins, Kishan Paliwal and Jeevan Paliwal, in the scheme. On August 10, Kushal and Chandan reportedly visited Lahrilal’s house again.

As a neighbour, Kushal was allowed inside, and Radhabai served the two men a meal. During the visit, police said Kushal concealed a hammer that he found inside the house under his clothes. However, after noticing movement around the premises, the two men left. On the morning of August 11, Kushal and Chandan returned to the couple’s house but left when they found the door locked. Later that night, Kishan and Jeevan allegedly arrived at the house on the pretext of showing a horoscope. Lahrilal was upstairs at the time.

According to police, the two men distracted Radhabai, allowing Kushal to enter the house and hide in the bathroom. Kushal later messaged Kishan and Jeevan, instructing them to leave. Late that night, Kushal allegedly opened the door and allowed Chandan, Dilip, and Vikas to enter.

Police said the accused then went upstairs and killed Lahrilal by striking him on the head with a hammer. Radhabai was allegedly strangled while she was sleeping in a downstairs room.

The accused then reportedly placed both bodies in plastic bags and hid them inside the storage compartment of a bed, covering them with bedding.

Using Radhabai’s keys, they allegedly opened the wardrobe and stole jewellery and cash. Police said the accused also took the couple’s mobile phones and later discarded them on a highway while the devices were still switched on.

Investigators believe the suspects attempted to stage the scene to make it appear that the couple had left the house voluntarily. During the investigation, police analysed call records and location data from the deceased couple’s mobile phones and questioned local residents.

Technical analysis and other investigative leads eventually directed investigators towards a suspicious car. Police said the vehicle had been seen in the area on the nights of August 9-11 and again at around 5 a.m. on August 12. Its presence was also recorded at the Kherwara toll plaza.

Acting on information about the vehicle, police expanded their investigation and allegedly established the involvement of Kushal Paliwal and his associates.

The arrested accused were identified as Kushal alias Khushi Paliwal (26) of Punavali, currently residing in Surat; Chandan Yadav (27) of Samastipur, Bihar, currently residing in Surat; Dilip Chaudhary (30) of Surat; Kishan Paliwal (21) of Punavali and Jeevan Paliwal (21) of Punavali. Police have recovered the vehicle allegedly used in the crime, while a sixth accused has been detained.

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.