The Bombay High Court on Wednesday took Mumbai Police to task for its lethargy in the investigation of the Torres investment scam, and ordered protection for a chartered accountant who claims to be the whistleblower in the case.
A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale directed the city police commissioner to provide protection to Abhishek Gupta who claims to have exposed the scam, even as the police told the court that they were still ascertaining if he faced any threat.
The court's order came in response to a petition filed by Gupta.
The firm that owns Torres jewellery brand is accused of cheating hundreds of investors of crores of rupees through a combination of Ponzi and multi-level marketing schemes, promising very high returns but eventually defaulting on payout.
The Economic Offences Wing of the police has so far arrested three persons in the case including two foreign nationals.
Gupta's petition sought police protection, apprehending a threat to his life after the scam came to light.
During the hearing, the bench expressed dismay over the manner in which the EOW, a 'specialised agency', dragged its feet, giving opportunity to the foreign national accused to flee India.
"We are shocked at the manner in which the investigation is progressing. Somewhere, the police are responsible. They had so much information," the bench remarked.
Gupta, who had audited the accounts of Platinum Hern Pvt., the parent firm of Torres brand, in his plea claimed...
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