Bengaluru: A day after Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner B.M. Vijay Shankar was arrested in connection with the multi-crore I Monetary Advisory (IMA) investment scam, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) issued a summons to Shivajinagar MLA R. Roshan Baig.
Mr Baig's name figured prominently in the audio clip released by IMA group MD Mohammed Mansoor Khan before fleeing the country last month, leaving over 50,000 investors in the lurch. Khan had accused Mr Baig of harassment when asked to return Rs 400 crore. Mr Baig, however, denied Khan's claims.
The SIT, which has already arrested BDA Executive Engineer P.D. Kumar – whose name too was mentioned along with Baig's in the audio, issued the summons notice on Tuesday and asked Mr Baig to appear before the investigating agency at 11 am on Thursday.
Mr Baig, who was suspended by the Congress for his "anti-party" activities, resigned as MLA on Tuesday.Confirming that the summons notice was issued to Mr Baig, SIT officials said that the politician has been asked to appear before it as he needed to be questioned about the scam.
The IMA scam running into over Rs 4,000 crore is believed to be the biggest investment scam to hit the state. The SIT has so far arrested 18 people in connection with the scam.
On Monday, the SIT arrested Vijay Shankar after the Assistant Commissioner of Revenue Department L.C. Nagaraj and Village Accountant Manjunath, who were arrested earlier this month, spilled the beans on Rs 4.5 crore bribe paid to them by Mansoor Khan and the involvement of Vijay Shankar.
According to SIT, Vijay Shankar recieved Rs 1.5 crore from Khan to sign on a favourable report prepared by Nagaraj, which was later submitted to the government. The three accused received Rs 4.5 crore from Khan to execute the task.
During the investigation, both Nagaraj and Manjunath revealed that Vijay Shankar took his share of Rs 1.5 crore, following which he was summoned for questioning and was later arrested. The SIT sleuths also raided his house.
Earlier, BDA Executive Engineer Kumar was arrested for receiving a bribe of Rs 4 crore from Khan. BBMP nominated corporator Syed Mujahid, who was allegedly involved in financial transactions with Khan, too was arrested by the SIT.
In all, SIT has arrested 18 people in connection with the IMA scam including 12 board of directors, one auditor, nominated corporator Syed Mujahid, BDA Executive Engineer P.D. Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Revenue Department, L.C. Nagaraj, Village Accountant Manjunath and Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner Vijay Shankar.
