Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 25: The special investigation team (SIT) formed to investigate the I Monetary Advisory (IMA) scam said to be worth about a thousand crore rupees, has served notices on former ministers and MLAs Roshan Baig and Zameer Ahmed Khan, seeking their presence for the investigation into the case. Both have been asked to be present themselves for questioning at 11 am on July 29.

SIT head Ravikanthe Gowda, however, said that they would be questioned at different times.

Roshan Baig (left) and Zameer Ahmed Khan

SIT has arrested the auditor of the firm relating to the scam. He has been identified as Iqbal Khan (72). He has been accused of creating fake documents and wrong statistics in his audit report to mislead income tax department and registrar of companies and other departments. He reportedly, in connivance with Mansoor Khan, was projecting as if the company was making profits. Influenced by this projection, people used to invest in the company, it is said.

It is said that Mansoor Khan has revealed about having given money to several leading polticians from the state to escape from action. During the first three days of SIT custody, the team could not get much information from Khan as he repeatedly said he was ill. Now the court has permitted three more days of his custody.

It is said that influential politicians have been trying to shield Mansoor Khan by blocking his questioning. It is said that an unidentified person had called the officials investigating the scam, warning them that they would be responsible if they keep Mansoor with them in violation of doctor's advice.

In the meanwhile the state government has appointed regional commissioner of Bengaluru division, T V Rashmi, as the competent authority relating to the case. The city district deputy commissioner here had been earlier appointed as competent authority. But he has since been arrested as his name emerged during the investigation as likely beneficiary. IMA scam has affected people of various districts. Therefore, in view of the high court order, Rashmi was appointed by the government as the competent authority.

Karnataka - Goa region head of income tax department B R Balakrishnan, said that his department is prepared to investigate the IMA scam if the department is approached by anyone with a complaint.