Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the multi-crore I Monetary Advisory (IMA) investment scam has allegedly softened its stance in the questioning of disqualified Shivajinagar MLA R Roshan Baig whom the IMA group MD and the scam kingpin Mohammed Mansoor Khan had accused of taking a Rs.400 crore loan and not returning it.
Mr. Baig has repeatedly dodged summons by the SIT citing one or the other reason and latest being on August 5 when he did not turn up before the SIT officials. The SIT, as usual, has given him August 13 as the next date to appear before it for the questioning.
The SIT allegedly softened its approach after the formation of the new government on July 29, led by the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. The SIT had detained Mr. Baig from Kempegowda International Airport on July 15 while he was trying to board a private aircraft to Mumbai to join the Congress rebel MLA at a hotel. The political development was at its peak and the Congress-JD(S) government was on the verge of collapse then.
Of the five summons issued by the SIT to Mr. Baig since July 9, he had appeared only once on July 19. After that, he was summoned along with Chamarajpet MLA BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan on July 29. While Zameer Ahmed appeared before the SIT on July 29, Mr. Baig had skipped the summons citing health reasons.
The SIT officials too are mum on Baig's appearance for questioning and did not comment on the next date of hearing even though the scam kingpin Mansoor Khan is in SIT custody.
Meanwhile, Baig who is fraternizing with BJP leaders since his relationship with Congress leaders turned soared, had even met a BJP union minister following the IMA scam expose. He met Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Saturday and has reportedly sought his help in connection with IMA scam Investigation.
According to sources, Baig requested BSY to help him from the harassment by SIT in the name of Investigation. He reportedly told BSY that SIT was repeatedly summoning him for questioning. However, Mr. Baig has denied discussing anything related to IMA scam and its Investigation with BSY.
The SIT investigating the IMA investment scam in which over 50,000 investors were duped of over 4,000 crore rupees, has so far arrested 23 people including 12 from the board of directors of IMA, auditor Iqbal Khan, Bengaluru Urban DC BM Vijay Shankar, BDA Executive Engineer PD Kumar, BBMP nominated corporator Syed Mujahid, Assistant Commissioner of Revenue Department LC Nagaraj, Village Accountant Manjunath and rowdy Ishtiyak Ahmed alias Ishtiyak Pailwan.
