Hyderabad: Former world billiards champion Michael Ferreira and three others were arrested on Wednesday in connection with three cheating cases registered against them here in the alleged multi-crore rupee fraud involving marketing company QNet, Cyberabad Police said.
Ferreira (78) and Malcom N Desai, share-holders of M/s Vihaan Direct Selling India Pvt Ltd, along with M V Balaji and Srinivas Rao, associated with the firm, were earlier arrested in Mumbai by Maharashtra Police.
"All the four were brought on PT (production transit) warrant from Mumbai last night and arrested today. There were three cases registered against them under Madhapur and Kukatpally police stations," DCP (Madhapur Zone) Vishwa Prasad told PTI.
The four were produced before a court, which sent them in judicial custody until November 9, the DCP said, adding that they were being shifted to Cherlapally Central Prison.
They were booked on charge of cheating and under relevant provisions of IPC, besides under Prize, Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Schemes Act, the officer said.
On October 19, Ferreira, Desai, Balaji and Rao were brought to Hyderabad and placed under arrest in connection with another cheating case involving QNet and its Indian subsidiary M/s Vihaan Direct Selling India Pvt Ltd registered by Central Crime Station, a wing of Hyderabad City Police.
However, the Hyderabad High Court stayed further proceedings against them into the case, following which they were taken back to Mumbai before being brought back to city again last night.
According to Hyderabad Police, several cases have been registered against QNet and its earlier companies in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi and Telangana states.
Vihaan Direct Selling India Pvt Ltd is a master franchise of M/s QNet in India.
