Latest news with #EconomicOffencesWing
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Bombay HC holds Hemang Shah arrest illegal for flouting procedure, orders immediate release
The Bombay High Court declared Hemang Shah's arrest by the Economic Offences Wing illegal due to the failure to produce him before a magistrate within 24 hours. MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court vacation bench on Friday declared the arrest of Anchor Group director Hemang Shah , 50, by Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) as illegal, citing failure by police to produce him before a magistrate in 24 hours. The court ordered his immediate release from Arthur Road Jail. The vacation bench, comprising Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan, noted that chat messages between the wives of the two brothers supported Hemang Shah's claim that his arrest and continued custody were intended to recover the settlement amount in mediation between family members. The arrest was based on allegations of defrauding his elder brother, Mehul Shah, of Rs 67 crore. Hemang Shah petitioned the High Court, arguing that his arrest was illegal since he was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours as required by law. He was detained at Delhi airport at 5.30 pm on May 17 and produced in court only at 10.45 pm on May 18. The High Court agreed, stating that his arrest "without producing him before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours is completely illegal" and infringes on fundamental rights under Article 22(2), which mandates such production. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The First Information Report (FIR) by the elder brother was lodged with Malabar Police Station in South Mumbai at 2.14 am, and a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued at the police station's request. The dispute, being resolved before a mediator, is between Hemang on one side and his brother and their father on the other. The FIR was filed during mediation, and Hemang, scheduled to fly to Muscat from Delhi on May 17, was apprehended at the airport due to the LOC. Police stated they arrested him on May 18 after the immigration department handed him over at 4.30 am, and then he was brought to Mumbai. Senior counsel for the elder brother—the complainant—argued that the immigration officers cannot be considered police officers, and hence his custody after being "accosted" at the airport was not an "arrest" by police officers. The prosecution and complainant's counsel argued that only on arrest by officers authorised to do so would the legal obligations ensue. The EOW's arrest memo states he was arrested on May 18 at 7.30 pm. The High Court bench said, "In our view, the act of the Immigration Officers to accost the petitioner or detain him on 17th May 2025 at 1730 hours is the act of arrest, and therefore the period of 24 hours as contemplated under Section 58 of BNS and Article 22(2) of the Constitution of India shall begin on 17th May 2025 at 1730 hours." Additionally, the High Court order stated, "Though the petitioner is shown to have been arrested in the arrest memo on 18th May 2025 at 19.30 hours, the material on record does not support the date and time as mentioned in the arrest memo." The bench also refrained from "expressing any comments on the unholy haste shown by the police officers as well as EOW officers in registering the FIR post-midnight at 2.14 hours on 14th May 2025 and also issuing the request for LOC (Look Out Circular) on the same day," stating that the case did not merit such haste. "Considering the nature of the dispute and the allegations made against the petitioner, we did not find any such tearing hurry to initiate action to take the petitioner into custody with such zeal and enthusiasm," said the detailed order made available on Saturday. The High Court also accepted the prosecutor's statement that the police would preserve CCTV footage of the EOW Unit 5 office at DN Road and the May 18, 22, 25 entry register for two weeks to enable Hemang Shah to take legal steps. However, the High Court clarified that its observations were only to decide his plea regarding his illegal arrest and would not influence the trial or merits of the case.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
'Actor Dino Morea's brother's company got Rs 18L from accused in Mithi scam'
MUMBAI: The city's Economic Offences Wing (EOW), probing the multi-crore Mithi River desilting scam, said that Rs 18 lakh were received by UBO Ridez, a company where actor Dino Morea's brother, Santino, is a director, from arrested accused Ketan Kadam. "We are probing why the amount was transferred from Kadam's account to UBO Ridez," said an officer. Kadam is associated with Vodar India LLP and was arrested earlier this month for his alleged role in the desilting scam. Vodar India and UBO Ridez, an electric cart company, operated from the same address near Famous Studio in Worli, said police. Investigators have searched the office after registering an FIR. Kadam's wife is also a director in UBO Ridez. The EOW earlier this week questioned Dino and Santino twice in this case. TNN
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
EOW takes over investigation of investment fraud worth Rs 9.5 crore
Pune: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Pune city police has taken over the investigation of an investment fraud case worth Rs 9.5 crore. Senior inspector Girisha Nimbalkar of Deccan Gymkhana police told TOI, "We registered a case of cheating against three men, one from Dhankawadi and another from Bhandarkar Road on April 23. Earlier, the collective value of cheating was less than Rs 3 crore, but during the probe, more victims approached us, and now the collective volume of cheating is Rs 9.5 crore. So, the case has been transferred to the EOW." Police have arrested two men in the case so far. "The two men and their accomplices were operating an office in the Deccan area, and between Dec 2023 and April 2024, they spread the word among people, urging them to invest in their schemes of agriculture and bungalow plot developments. They projected their schemes as govt schemes and called for investments," Nimbalkar said. According to the police, the suspects took investments from people based in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. "The suspects also promised them bungalows on their investment," Nimbalkar said. "So far, nine investors have submitted their statements to the police, and their collective investments in the schemes are worth Rs 9.5 crore," she said. "The investors, including the complainant from Wakad, approached us when the trio failed to give returns," Nimbalkar said.
News18
5 days ago
- Business
- News18
Mother-Daughter Duo Held In Bengal For Rs 10,000 Crore Chit Fund Scam
Last Updated: The mother-daughter duo allegedly siphoned off funds from multiple states, including West Bengal, and laundered the money to China and Dubai via hawala channels Thousands were drawn into what appeared to be a lucrative investment scheme, lured by the promise of high returns and rewards for recruiting new members. The illusion fell apart when Odisha Police arrested a mother-daughter duo for allegedly running a fraudulent company and siphoning off nearly Rs 10,000 crore from the market. The accused, Deepika Bhanj and Tandra Bhanj, were taken into custody from Ramnagar in Purba Medinipur district in West Bengal for allegedly enticing investors with false promises of substantial profits, police officials said. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Odisha police apprehended the two women from Hamirpur village under the Ramnagar police station and brought them to Bhubaneswar. Investigators suspect that the company may have connections with Bangladesh. It is alleged that the Bhanjs siphoned off funds from several states, including West Bengal and laundered the money to locations like China and Dubai through hawala channels. The alleged mastermind behind the scheme is Tushar Bhanj, husband of Deepika Bhanj, who had set up multiple companies years ago. He appointed his wife and daughter as directors in some of them while also holding a directorial position himself. According to police, the company later expanded its operations by opening offices in several locations. Tushar was reportedly arrested in 2024 during the investigation after a resident of Bhubaneswar filed a complaint upon not receiving their invested money. Since then, Deepika and Tandra had been evading arrest until their capture on Tuesday in Ramnagar, police said. Police sources indicate that Tushar's elaborate scam has defrauded over 15,000 people across multiple states, including Odisha, Bihar, Assam and Chhattisgarh, over the past three-four years, amassing around Rs 10,000 crore. Following an investigation, police traced the accused mother-daughter duo to Ramnagar in East Medinipur district. On Tuesday, Odisha Police conducted a raid and arrested them from Hamirpur in the Ramnagar-2 block. First Published: May 29, 2025, 13:58 IST
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Masked Dino Morea avoids cameras as she arrives for questioning regarding Mithi River desilting fraud. Watch
Actor Dino Morea, along with his brother Santino, has come under the scanner in the alleged ₹65 crore Mithi River desilting scam. Recently, Dino was spotted avoiding cameras when he reached the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for questioning in connection with the case. Also read: Dino Morea, brother Santino grilled by EOW in Mithi river desilting case On Wednesday, Dino and his brother Santino were called in for questioning regarding the case. The siblings reached the EOW's office in Mumbai around 1 pm and were questioned until late in the evening. They were also asked to bring some documents, which are being verified, added the officer. Dino attempted to maintain a low profile when he arrived at the EOW office in Mumbai on Wednesday afternoon, wearing a mask and dodging cameras as he faced questioning in connection with the Mithi River case. The video shows Dino entering the office, where photographers swarm him, inquiring about his involvement in the case. Visibly trying to avoid attention, he is seen swiftly dodging both the cameras and questions, making a quick move inside. Dino, who is awaiting the release of his next film Housefull 5, was dressed in a white shirt paired with jeans and wore a face mask as he arrived at the office. The actor has not yet shared any statement regarding his involvement in the case. He was last seen in web series, The Royals. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police is questioning Dino and his younger brother Santino in connection with alleged irregularities in the awarding and execution of contracts to desilt the Mithi river. This was the second time this week that the siblings were called in for questioning. They were interrogated for eight hours on May 26 after the EOW came across phone records indicating the brothers had been in contact with some people linked to the case. The agency has also found that Santino Morea and Ketan Kadam's wife, Punita, are directors in a private company, UBO Ridez Private Limited, which operates Victoria-style electric carriages in Mumbai. Ketan Kadam, who was arrested on May 7, was among 13 people booked by the EOW for allegedly causing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) a loss of ₹65.54 crore in connection with the Mithi river desilting project. The fraud involves alleged financial irregularities, inflated tenders, and corrupt practices linked to desilting work for the Mithi River.
