TV actor and COO of Elder Pharmaceuticals Anuj Saxena was arrested by the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Thursday. Saxena, who is facing multiple cases, was arrested in connection with a complaint of allegedly duping investors to the tune of Rs 141 crore.

While the EOW sought Anuj Saxena’s custody to probe his role as COO of the company, he opposed the plea on grounds, including that he is a medical practitioner and has a company that manufactures kits and sanitisers, required during the ongoing pandemic

The court accepted the contention of the EOW that Saxena as COO may have the knowledge of the alleged cheating

“…entire prevailing circumstances may be in exclusive knowledge of this applicant/accused holding higher post in the company, which has to be explored by the investigating officer during the course of investigation… Even though he is a medical practitioner and in this Covid-19 situation is manufacturing kit, sanitiser etc., but we cannot overlook the fraud which was committed by duping gullible investors,” Special Judge Abhijeet Nandgaonkar said, directing Saxena to be sent to the EOW’s custody till Monday.

Saxena has been booked on charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy and sections of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors Act, 1999. The complaint was filed by an investor, who claimed that lucrative returns were promised for investing in fixed deposits of the company in 2012.

The complaint said after the deposits matured in 2015, there was no response from the company. The last response was received from Saxena in 2015 where he assured them in writing that the amount would be returned. However, the investors did not receive the money.