Torres Fraud Accused Gets 72 Hours to Return From UAE

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has given Torres fraud accused Sagar Paresh Mehta 72 hours to return to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and cooperate with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in its money laundering probe linked to the alleged Torres fraud.

A bench headed by Justice Bharati Dangre passed the order on October 14 after Mehta, through his advocate, conveyed his willingness to return to India. The Torres fraud accused has been directed to share his travel itinerary, mobile number and permanent residential address with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED.

Mehta's advocate, Aditya Mithe, told the court that his client had been released in the UAE under Article 15 of Federal Law No. 39 of 2006, which deals with international judicial cooperation in criminal matters. The ED, however, told the court that it was not aware whether Mehta had actually been released under that provision.

The bench was hearing Mehta's plea arising from the alleged Torres fraud. The court recorded the advocate's submission about the release under the UAE's international judicial cooperation law alongside the ED's response that it had no confirmation of the grounds of release.

Torres fraud accused to share travel details with agencies

The Bombay High Court noted that a Red Corner Notice had been issued against Mehta by the CBI at the instance of the ED. The Torres fraud accused was directed to forward his travel details to both agencies, and the court said his mobile number and permanent address should be verified before he arrived in India.

Upon his return, Mehta has been directed to report to the investigating officer of the Enforcement Directorate at its Worli office in Mumbai within 24 hours of landing. He has also been ordered to extend full cooperation to the investigation into the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Torres fraud accused must report to ED within 24 hours

The court clarified that if the investigating officer considers the arrest of the Torres fraud accused necessary, the officer would be at liberty to arrest him by following due process of law.

Considering Mehta's stated willingness to return and cooperate, the bench ordered that the Red Corner Notice and the Look Out Circular issued by the CBI, along with the non-bailable warrant issued against him by the competent authority, would remain in abeyance for seven days.

Red Corner Notice kept in abeyance for Torres fraud accused

The ED had initiated extradition proceedings against Mehta after he was arrested in the UAE on the basis of the notice issued against him. Last month, a special PMLA court allowed the agency to send an extradition proposal to the UAE government through diplomatic channels. According to the prosecution, Mehta allegedly fled India on December 24, 2024, in connection with the Torres fraud case.

The Torres fraud accused is under a money laundering investigation by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged Torres fraud. The Bombay High Court observed that securing his presence was essential for the probe to proceed, while recording that he had expressed his willingness to cooperate.

For now, the 72-hour clock is ticking: Mehta must land in India, verify his contact details with both agencies and present himself before the ED's investigating officer — or face the revival of the suspended coercive process once the seven-day window lapses.