Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS) 

Bengaluru, Jul 7: Assistant commissioner of Bengaluru North, L C Nagaraj, who was arrested for the multi-crore IMA scam on Friday, was sent to police custody till July 12. 

Nagaraj was produced in the principal city civil sessions court on Saturday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Judge Shivashankar B Amarannavar heard the defence counsel Hanumantharaya's argument, in which he vehemently opposed handing over Nagaraj to the custody of SIT for 14 days and told the court that his questioning can be completed in two or three days. 

The defense counsel's argument was countered by the public prosecutor Narayan Reddy, who summarised the prosecution charge. Narayan Reddy said that Nagaraj is a high ranking official, who was entrusted the authority of investigating the complaints filed against IMA Group. The assistant commissioner, however, cheated the faith of the government and people and colluded with Mohammed Mansoor Khan, the managing director of IMA, promising him to submit a report to the government in his favour. 

The public prosecutor further said that Nagaraj submitted a report in February 2019, in which the administrative lapses and the illegal schemes run by the company were hushed up, thereby absolving the managing director of the company Mansoor Khan. 

Narayan Reddy, further accused Nagaraj of taking Rs 4.5 crore as bribe through village accountant Manjunath, who is the 16th accused in the case. He said, "The money received as bribe by Nagaraj belongs to the investors of the organization. So it needs to be known as to where it is hidden by the accused. In addition, the properties of Nagaraj need to be assessed for which his custody for 14 days is required." 

After hearing the arguments of both the sides, Judge sent Nagaraj to the custody of SIT for six days, till July 12. 

Next hearing of the case is scheduled on the same date.