Investors throng jewellery store as owner 'disappears' in Bengaluru
Audio clip of owner goes viral
Bengaluru, Jun 10: Hundreds of investors thronged a prominent city jewellery store Monday after an audio clip surfaced where a person alleged to be the owner is heard saying he is going to commit suicide as he was fed up with corruption.
The owner was also into the chit fund business.
As soon the audio went viral, investors including a large number of women with their children started gathering at the IMAJewellers headquarters at Shivajinagar near here demanding action against Mohammed Mansur Khan, the owner.
The person is heard addressing police that he was committing suicide as he was fed up withcorruption in the state and central government.
In the audio, he is also heard accusing central and state officials of harassing him, compelling him to take the extreme step.
He also asks police to sell all his wealth and jewellery to pay investors and is heard accusing a politician of taking Rs 400 crore from him and not returning it.
Investors claimed they had invested crores in the firm.
Police have deployed adequate force around the jewellery shop to prevent any untoward incidents.
Deputy commissioner of police of Bengaluru East division Rahul Kumar Shahapurwad appealed to investors to lodge complaints with police with whatever proof they have.
He also made it clear that they have no information about Khan and asked people not to jump to any conclusion.
Police suspect that at least 26,000 investors from across Karnataka have been cheated.
Meanwhile, police have sounded alert at airport, bus-standand railway station to track the jeweller.
Police and investors said his mobile phone has been switched off and he is not traceable.
".... He has switched off his mobile phone and he is untraceable," commercial street police inspector B K Shekhar said.
Gultaz Banu, an investor, claimed she had invested about Rs nine lakh in the company.
"Since he was paying very high returns we relied on him. I sold all my jewellery to deposit in his company. Today I am left with nothing," Banu said.
Most of those who invested in the company belong to the minority community, working as auto rickshaw drivers, beedi manufacturers, carpenters and street vendors, police said.
Two years ago, the income tax department had conducted searches at the IMA business establishments.
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No more street vending on B’luru’s main roads, as govt plans to bring new policy for street hawkers
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday said that the state government has decided to formulate a new policy for footpaths in Bengaluru, under which street vending will not be allowed on main roads and sub-main roads.
Addressing the media after a budget preparation meeting and executive meeting of GBA corporations at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar said discussions were held with MLAs from the GBA region regarding the corporations’ budgets and key civic issues.
Leader of Opposition R. Ashok also participated in the meeting and shared his views. Officials from multiple departments, including police, BESCOM, BMRCL, BWSSB and BDA, along with ministers and legislators, were present.
He stated that all five municipalities have prepared their individual budgets, while MLAs have submitted their demands, including calls for ward-wise grants.
“We have decided to bring a new policy for footpaths. Citizens are struggling to walk as footpaths are encroached upon by street vendors,” Shivakumar said.
Highlighting the need to balance livelihoods and public convenience, he added that “a separate space will be provided for street vendors, and specific roads will be designated for their business,” ensuring that pedestrians can use footpaths without obstruction. He noted that there was unanimous agreement among MLAs on this approach.
Issuing a warning to vendors, Shivakumar said that authorities will act against those violating the rules. “If vendors operate during the day and leave their carts on the roadside at night, authorities will clear them. People should be aware of this,” he said.
Providing data on street vendors, he said that around 60,000 vendors have registered so far, of which 30,000 have applied for vehicles, and a tender has already been floated.
“Only those with street vendor identity cards will be allowed to do business. Those without ID cards will not be permitted to operate on the streets,” he added.
