The Special Investigation Team of Karnataka government has arrested 7 directors of the I Monetary Groups (IMA) just hours after its formation. The SIT has been formed to investigate the controversial Rs.2000-crore scam by an Islamic Investment firm, IMA Jewels that have affected more than 20,000 people across the state.
IMA MD Mansoor Khan Still Absconding
The directors who were arrested include Naveed Ahmed Nattamkar, Nasir Hussain, Afshan Tabassum, Nizammuddin Azeemuddin, Afsar Pasha, Arshad Khan, and Wasim. These directors and the Managing Director Mansoor Khan went absconding after the audio was released a few days ago. Mansoor Khan is still absconding and is reportedly in UAE. Most of these directors have just completed their 10th or 12th.
Headed by B R Ravikanthe Gowda, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Fire Force) the SIT team includes 10 officers including DCP S Girish. Several investors have demanded that the state government should hand over this matter to the Enforcement Directorate.
Loads of documents have been recovered from the Lady Curzon Road, Shivajinagar, and Jayanagar offices of IMA.
Muslim Politicians Proclaim Innocence
Shivajinagar MLA R Roshan Baig and BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, the minority welfare minister have proclaimed innocence by saying that they did not promote IMA or were a part of it. The Muslim politician Baig said that he was being implicated in this scam because he dared to raise his voice against the high command of Congress. Similarly, Zameer said that all his transactions with the IMA were legitimate.
According to police sources, a woman police sub-inspector who had invested Rs.7 lakh in this fraud company had to be hospitalized as she went into depression fearing the fate of her money. Also since the IMA scam have been exposed, investors who have invested their hard earned money in such Bengaluru-based companies collecting money under “halaal” have started panicking and reportedly asking the directors for explanations.
In one of the cases, residents of Jayanagar and Chennamanakere Acchukattu went to the directors of such companies after their payments were delayed and even threatened them to file FIRs.
