Editor’s Note
This article has been updated to reflect that the investigation into the Torres investment scam has been formally transferred to the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW). A lookout notice remains in effect for the company’s owners.
The investigation into the Torres investment scam case will now be handled by the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW). On Wednesday, the Shivaji Park police in Dadar handed over the files related to the scam to EOW officials. On Wednesday, EOW officials visited the Shivaji Park police station and obtained all information related to the case. Meanwhile, a lookout notice has also been issued against the owners of Torres Company.
An EOW official stated that they have recorded statements from more than 66 investors. In this case, a lookout notice has been issued against two absconding accused. Both accused are Ukrainian citizens. Their names are Victoria Kovalenko and Taufiq Riaz alias John Carter.
Meanwhile, the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar Commissionerate has frozen two accounts of the company. DCP Prakash Gaikwad said that the two accounts have deposits of 1.77 crore and 7.40 crore rupees. Complainant Advocate Tarun Sharma said that the timely freezing of bank accounts by MBVV police has increased the possibility of investors getting their money back. So far, around 50 complainants have approached the police.
Prima facie, this case is several times more than 13.48 crore. However, complaints from 90 people have been received so far. This sequence is ongoing. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya visited Shivaji Park police station and the Torres store to console the victims of the fraud. He told the media:
Shivaji Park police have registered a case of fraud amounting to over 13.48 crore rupees against 5 directors of Platinum Hern Private Limited, which runs the ‘Torres’ jewelry brand, for promising attractive returns on investment in the firm. Three top officials of the company, including two foreign nationals, were arrested on Tuesday evening. All have been sent to police custody until January 13. Considering the scope of the investigation, the case was transferred to the EOW on Wednesday. This fraud case came to light on Monday evening when over 300 investors gathered outside the Torres store located in Vastu Central Building, Dadar (West). Apart from Mumbai, hundreds of investors from nearby suburbs including Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar have also been cheated by the company under the guise of an investment scheme.
Sarvesh Ashok Surve (30), a resident of Umerkhadi in South Mumbai, Tania alias Tzagul Karaksanovna Zasatova (52), a citizen of Uzbekistan, and Valentina Ganesh Kumar (44), a Russian citizen, are the top officials of this company. Surve’s profile was Director in Platinum Hern Private Limited and Tania was the General Manager, while Valentina was the Store In-charge in the company.