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Torres Jewellery Scam: EOW Raids Uncover ₹3 Crore In Cash, Arrests Three In Multi-Crore Fraud

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) conducted raids at six locations as part of its investigation into the multi-crore fraud involving Torres Company. The raids targeted the company’s offices in Dadar, Lower Parel, and Opera House, along with the residences of three accused individuals in Colaba, Umerkhadi (Dongri), and Dombivli.

During the operation, the EOW seized ₹3 crore in cash from the company’s offices and the residences of the accused. The cash was counted using two specialized machines. Several crucial documents were also recovered. Confirming the action, a senior EOW official identified the arrested individuals as Tania Casatova (Uzbekistan) from Colaba, Valentina Ganesh Kumar (Russia) from Dombivli, and Sarvesh Surve from Umerkhadi.

According to EOW sources, absconding accused Mohammed Tausif Riaz, alias John Carter, has submitted a 182-page report. The report alleges that the same individuals behind the Torres fraud were also responsible for the 2019 B2B jewelry scam in Ukraine and Russia. This report, shared with other agencies, is currently under scrutiny.

The investigation revealed that foreign suspects, including Valentina Kumar, Tania Casatova, and Victoria Kovalenko, used fake identification documents to purchase Indian SIM cards, reportedly paying over ₹12,000 for each. The SIM cards were allegedly procured from Nepal. Two of these suspects have been arrested.

The EOW suspects that Torres Company operated a Ponzi scheme under the guise of a jewelry business. Evidence of tax evasion and money laundering has emerged. Arrested suspect Sarvesh Surve claimed he was a director and shareholder but denied involvement in the company’s operations. This claim is under investigation.

Fraud Scope and Online Activities:

The EOW is also examining Torres Company’s Instagram account, where misleading posts and videos continue to lure victims. The Cyber Cell is aiding in identifying the locations and individuals responsible for these activities. Three bank accounts linked to Torres Company have been frozen, with further efforts underway to seize additional assets.

Official estimates currently place the fraud at ₹23 crore. However, authorities suspect it could exceed ₹1,000 crore, given the increasing number of complaints.

Complaints and Seizures

DCP Sangramsingh Nishandar (EOW) confirmed that more than 350 complaint forms have been received so far. “Cash exceeding ₹3 crore, silver, stones, investment papers, and other valuables have been seized. Over 15 luxury cars were delivered to customers, with five more bookings still pending,” he stated, emphasizing that the investigation is ongoing.

A Look-Out Circular (LOC) has been issued against Victoria Kovalenko (38), a resident of Ukraine, and Mohammed Tausif Riyaz alias John Carter (33), a resident of Mumbai.

Business

Indian stock market trades flat, all eyes on RBI MPC meet

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Mumbai, Feb 5 : The domestic benchmark indices traded almost flat early on Wednesday, after the stock market experienced a strong upward movement as the US trade tariff tensions eased.

After a positive opening, the Sensex and the Nifty were almost flat. At around 9.31 am, Sensex was trading at around 78,595.81, up marginally, while the Nifty was at 23,769.80, up almost 30 points or 0.13 per cent.

HDFC Bank, Infosys, Oil and Natural Gas Corp, Tata Consultancy Services and Bharat Petroleum Corp added to the Nifty 50 index.

On the other hand, Asian Paints, Larsen and Toubro, Titan and Nestle India weighed on the Nifty 50 index.

On NSE, nine sectors advanced, three declined out of 12. The NSE Nifty FMC declined the most, and the NSE Nifty Oil & Gas rose the most. The BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices were trading higher in early trade.

According to market watchers, after a positive opening, Nifty can find support at 23,600. On the higher side, 23,800 can be an immediate resistance, followed by 23,900 and 24,000.

After remaining net sellers for the 23 sessions, the foreign institutional investors (FIIs) turned net buyers on February 4, as they bought equities worth Rs 809 crore. On the contrary, 35 domestic institutional investors (DIIs) turned net sellers after remaining net buyers for the last 35 sessions, as they sold equities worth Rs 430 crore.

The strong buying interest helped the Nifty index close above the 23,700 mark. Additionally, global markets traded positively.

According to Sameet Chavan of Angel One, the US decision to pause tariffs triggered a strong recovery from lower levels in U.S. futures overnight, setting a positive tone for Asian markets.

“While the momentum remains positive, key overhead resistance levels need to be monitored at 23900 (89 DEMA), 24000 (200 DSMA), and 24250 (previous swing high),” he mentioned.

After a robust Union Budget, all eyes are on the RBI’s monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting on February 7 where a rate cut is expected.

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BMC Budget 2025: Over ₹5500 Crore Allocated For Development Of Coastal Road (Phase 1 & 2); Details Inside

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Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) presented its budget for the financial year 2025–2026 on Tuesday. BMC assigned an unprecedented budget of Rs 74,366 crore for the financial year 2025-26. The civic body budget allocated approximately Rs 4,000 crore for the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (Phase 2). BMC mentioned Phase 2, which will connect Versova and Dahisar.

The budget is a crucial component of the BMC’s operations, as it outlines the key factors and the city’s development, as well as what should be invested in and how to invest for the state. Coastal roads are crucial for Mumbai because they provide commuters with quick access and good connectivity, cutting the travel time between Marine Drive and Bandra-Worli Sea Link from 45 to 50 minutes to less than 10 minutes.

Mumbai Coastal Road Project (Phase 1)

The first phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road would be maintained, according to the budget, with Rs 1,516 crore allocated for the south section’s completion. Project Coastal Road (Phase 1) The first phase began in March 2024 with the opening of 10.58 km of coastal road. Starting at BD Somani Chowk, 280 m before the Princess Street Flyover at Marine Drive, the path leads to Worli, where it joins the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL). Estimated cost of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project Phase 1 was ₹13,060 crore.

Mumbai Coastal Road Project (Phase 2)

Phase 2 is now underway in the Versova and Dahisar neighborhoods of Mumbai. BMC mentioned the total amount of 4000 crore rupees that was permitted for phase 2 in the budget for 2025–2026. BMC is keenly focusing on the Coastal Road Project to develop the city and to reduce the traffic issue of Mumbai

BMC Budget 2025-26 Other Highlights

The BMC budget also prioritizes waste management services and educational facilities. Among the greatest services in Mumbai, together with the roads such as the Goregoan Mulund Link Road and the concretization projects

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BMC Budget 2025: Mumbai Civic Body Allocates ₹7,380 Crore For Healthcare In 2025-26 Budget; Full Details Inside

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Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has allocated Rs 7,380.43 crore for healthcare in its 2025-26 budget of Rs 74,427 crore, focusing on hospital redevelopment, disease prevention and expanded medical services.

To increase capacity, 3,515 new beds will be added through municipal hospital redevelopment. Intensive care and neonatal ICU services in suburban hospitals will also be expanded. The Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray – Aapla Dawakhana initiative, which has 250 centres and 33 polyclinics, has benefited 90 lakh patients so far.

New Aapla Dawakhana Centres To Come Up In City

In the coming year, 25 new Aapla Dawakhana centres and three physiotherapy centres will be set up. Free diagnostic tests, including X-rays, ECGs, CT scans, MRI and mammography, will be provided at municipal rates through private labs.

Under a public-private partnership model, private institutions will operate and maintain hospitals for 30 years. These include the 490-bed Bhagwati Hospital in R/North Ward, a 300-bed hospital transferred from MMRDA in M/East Ward, as well as the Punjabi Galli Diagnostic Center, Jakhadevi Multi-Specialty Clinic and Vikhroli Parksite Hospital.

Several specialty medical services and hospital upgrades are planned. Nair Hospital will get a new oncology and emergency department, while Cooper Hospital will have a 150-bed cancer unit equipped with Linear Accelerator radiation therapy. IVF and dialysis services will be expanded at KEM, Nair, and LTMG Hospitals. The redevelopment of LTMG Hospital will include a new nursing college and an oncology building.

A ‘Zero Prescription Policy’ will ensure that all required medicines are available in municipal hospitals. The ‘Aarogya Seva Aaplya Dari’ initiative will introduce door-to-door health check-ups. DNB medical courses will be expanded, with new specialisations in ENT and Anesthesia.

Cancer Screening Initiative

In terms of disease prevention and cancer screening, 30 lakh citizens will be screened for hypertension, while an HPV vaccination program will be launched for girls aged 9 to 14 to prevent cervical cancer. A ward-wise cancer care model will be implemented to screen for oral, breast and cervical cancer.

Efforts to eliminate tuberculosis include distributing kits with masks, sanitizers, and spittoons to all TB patients. A Next-Generation Sequencing pilot project at Kasturba Hospital will improve TB diagnosis. A new BPaL regimen for MDR-TB treatment will be introduced.

Initiatives Benefitting Pregnant Women & Children

Maternal and child healthcare initiatives include 38 ‘Maa Mitra’ helpdesks to track high-risk pregnancies, automated voice calls and SMS alerts for pregnant women and infant immunization, cochlear implant surgeries for children with hearing disabilities at AJB ENT Hospital, and the establishment of two new Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres for malnourished children.

The immunization and disease surveillance program will conduct 52,000 vaccination sessions annually across Mumbai. A Typhoid Sentinel Surveillance program will be introduced in nine health centres.

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