The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police has arrested a 48-year-old Ukrainian national, Armen Atain, in connection with the multi-crore Torres investment scam. Armen, known for minor roles in Bollywood films, was detained from Madh, Malad, under the guise of being offered a film role.
The Torres Scam
The scam revolves around the Torres brand, which duped investors by promising to double their returns. Armen has been accused of aiding the key conspirators in setting up the fraudulent scheme and facilitating its operations.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to the EOW, Armen helped launch the Torres brand in Mumbai through Platinum Hearn Pvt. Ltd. He played a crucial role in connecting Tauseef Riaz, one of the prime accused, with the Ukrainian conspirators. Notably, Armen initially approached Tauseef for assistance in obtaining a PAN card under a false identity.
A meeting to establish the brand was held at a prominent hotel in Sakinaka in February 2023, where Armen actively participated. He also helped arrange a Chartered Accountant for the company alongside Tauseef. Additionally, Armen attended the inauguration of a Torres showroom in Dadar. However, he later distanced himself from the company, and investigators are now probing his links with the other accused after this period.
Arrest and Investigation
Armen’s involvement came to light during the interrogation of other accused individuals. Though his initial identification was challenging, police traced him to Film City and eventually located him in Madh, Malad. His arrest was made under the pretext of offering him a role in a film.
Forgery and False Documents
Investigators discovered that Armen had obtained fake documents, including a forged birth certificate from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, which he used to create a fake Aadhaar and PAN card. He claimed to be a Mumbai resident for over a decade. However, he has been uncooperative during questioning, and the authenticity of his documents is under verification.
Bollywood Connection
Armen, who lived with a Russian roommate in Madh, has appeared in minor roles as a foreigner in Bollywood films. Following his arrest, he has been remanded to police custody until February 3.
Ongoing Probe
The EOW has already arrested several key accused in the case, including Tania Kasatova (alias Tajgul Araksnoa Kasatova), Valentina Ganesh Kumar, Sarvesh Surve, hawala operator Alpesh Shah (alias Khara), and CEO Tauseef Riaz (alias John Carter). With Armen’s arrest, the total number of accused in the scam now stands at six.
The investigation into the multi-crore Torres scam continues, with the EOW tracking additional leads and unearthing further connections.