IMA Jewels Scam: MLA Baig Moves K’taka HC, Opposes SIT Detention
Kumaraswamy said it was “shameful” on the part of the BJP that it was “helping” a former minister.
advertisement
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the multi-crore IMA Jewels ponzi scam detained Congress MLA Roshan Baig when he was about to board a chartered plane from the Bengaluru international airport, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Monday, 15 July. Baig’s lawyer
Baig’s lawyer moved Karnataka High Court on Tuesday, 16 July, questioning the detention, asserting that he was served notice to appear before them only on 19 July.
In a tweet, Kumaraswamy alleged that BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa's personal assistant Santhosh was along with Baig, when he was leaving.
He added that on seeing the SIT, Santhosh ran away while the team apprehended Baig.
Shameful On BJP’s Part, Says Kumaraswamy
Kumaraswamy claimed that BJP MLA Yogeshwar was present at the airport at the time and said it was shameful on the part of the BJP that it was helping a former minister, who is facing a probe in the IMA case, escape.
The BJP, however, refuted the allegations and accused Kumaraswamy of using the state machinery to save his government.
The Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) government is facing a crisis after a flurry of resignations by its MLAs.
The chief minister has been alleging the BJP's involvement in pulling down his government.
Baig was supposed to appear before the SIT on Monday, 15 July, but citing some important work he did not turn up and sought time till 25 July but the investigators asked him to depose on 19 July instead.
He was needed in the case as the ponzi scheme operator Mohammad Mansoor Khan had accused him of taking Rs 400 crore and not returning it. Baig has refuted the charge calling it baseless and frivolous.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)