EOW tells court that Ukrainian actor possessed fake IDs, including a birth certificate from BMC

The police have received complaints from 10,848 investors who lost a total of ₹117.63 crore in the alleged Torres Jewellery fraud.

- Revu Suresh

MUMBAI: This was stated by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police on Monday before the special MPID (Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors) court hearing the case.

The police also told the court that the Ukrainian actor arrested in the case, Armen Gurun Ataian, had obtained fake Indian identity documents, including a birth certificate issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The 48-year-old, who played minor roles in Indian films and web series, was arrested in Mumbai on January 28. He allegedly helped the prime accused register the company that owns the Torres brand, Platinum Hern Private Limited, and open jewellery stores across the Mumbai metropolitan region.

Ataian's name came up in the investigation following the interrogation of Tausif Riyaz, alias John Carter, the chief executive officer of Platinum Hern.

Riyaz was arrested on January 26 from a hotel in Lonavala after being on the run for three weeks.

A self-proclaimed whistleblower, Riyaz is accused of being the key link in helping the several Ukrainian nationals set up a base in India. Ataian and Riyaz were produced before the special MPID court on Monday for remand.