SIT seizes over 300 kg of fake gold bars hidden in IMA owner's swimming pool
Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team probing the multi-crore IMA group ponzi scam Wednesday seized 303 kg of fake gold bars hidden under the swimming pool in the 6th floor of a building here belonging to group owner Mohammed Mansoor Khan.
The ponzi scheme operator Mohammed Mansoor Khan used to show the huge quantity of gold to the people and enticed them to invest in his company, the SIT said in a release.
Before fleeing the country, Khan had hid the fake gold bars in the swimming pool on the 6th floor of his building. The SIT raided the place and seized the 5,880 gold bars weighing 303 kg, it added.
Mansoor Khan, the owner of IMA jewels, was arrested last month in New Delhi by the Enforcement Directorate. Khan, who had fled to Dubai, flew back to India and was arrested on landing in Delhi.
The Enforcement Directorate had attached assets worth Rs 209 crore, including 20 immovable properties and bank deposits, in connection with the case.
The ED had filed the money laundering case against the IMA group of companies and Mohammed Mansoor Khan after reports emerged that he has gone underground fearing investments worth crores of about 40,000 investors have tanked.
The SIT has arrested over 25 people.
Those arrested include 12 directors of the IMA, a corporator, a corporators husband, former deputy commissioner of Bengaluru urban district and assistant commissioner of Bengaluru North sub-division.
It recently questioned Congress MLA B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan in connection with the case. The SIT wanted to question disqualified Congress MLA R Roshan Baig but he did not appear before it seeking time.
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Bulk diesel price hike rolled back for Gujarat fishermen: Minister
Gandhinagar (PTI): The latest hike in bulk diesel prices has been withdrawn for Gujarat’s fishermen after the state took up the matter with the Centre, Fisheries Minister Jitu Vaghani said.
The price of premium or higher-grade petrol was increased on Friday by Rs 2 per litre, while the rate of bulk diesel sold to industrial users was hiked by Rs 22.43 a litre, reflecting the spike in global oil prices amid the West Asia conflict.
Vaghani on Saturday said the Gujarat government had urged the Centre to offer relief to the fisheries sector by considering a “special exception” and withdrawing the increase of Rs 22.43 per litre in the price of bulk diesel used in fishermen’s boats.
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The state urged that fishermen be considered on par with retail customers, he said.
“Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre has accepted this reasonable representation of the fishermen of Gujarat. The Centre has instructed Bharat Petroleum to withdraw the increase of Rs 22.43 in the price of diesel used in fishermen’s boats, an official release said.
“So, the fishermen of the state will now receive diesel at the previously decided concessional rate,” it added.
The Gujarat government had signed a pact with the public sector undertaking Bharat Petroleum to ensure diesel for fishermen at a discounted price. However, the PSU recently increased the diesel price for fishermen by Rs 22.43 per litre.
“A representation was made to Vaghani, MLAs, local leaders and various fisheries organisations. Considering the seriousness of the matter, Vaghani, under the guidance of the chief minister, made a representation to the Centre to intervene in the matter,” the release said.
