Safety guaranteed; B'luru Police to Mansoor Khan

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru police on Monday assured IMA Jewels case accused Mansoor Khan that if he returns to the city they will guarantee his safety.

This assurance of the police comes a day after Mansoor Khan claimed in a video that he is ready to face an investigation in India despite an alleged risk to his life.

Three days afer the Enforcement Directorate summoned him, absconding IMA chief Mansoor Khan in a video clip on Sunday purportedly offered to surrender before police and reveal ‘big names’, who he alleged were behind its downfall and feared they would kill him.

Speaking on the issue Deputy Inspector General Ravikante Gowda, who heads the special team set up to investigate the case, has guaranteed Mansoor Khan’s safety if he turns himself in. “He has mentioned so many things in the video. Everything will be verified. Secondly, he has asked for protection. He says that he will surrender before the police if he gets protection.

He further added, ” Whether he is an accused or somebody who wants to surrender himself to the law, we will definitely give protection. He should not have any doubt about it. If he submits himself before the law, we will give protection.”

Khan had earlier accused former Congress MLA Roshan Baig of having taken Rs 400 crore and not paying it back. The Karnataka government had formed an 11-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by DIG BR Ravikanthe Gowda to probe the alleged fraud.

On June 20, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued the first summons to Khan, directing him to appear before the agency on June 24.

The next day, SIT raided the IMA Jewels’ office in New Delhi and seized Rs 20 crore worth jewellery.

The SIT had arrested the firm’s auditor Iqbal Khan and seven directors of different entities linked to Khan.

Over 40,000 complaints have so far been filed against the company by investors, demanding that their money be returned to them.