Update
Bengaluru, Jul 20 (IANS): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday got three-day custody of IMA Jewellers' founder and prime accused in the multi-crore Ponzi scam Mansoor Khan from a Bengaluru court for a joint probe with the SIT, an official said.
"Khan was flown to Bengaluru from Delhi on a transit remand by the ED earlier in the day and produced in a local court for joint custody to interrogate him in the scam," an official of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) told IANS here.
As the ED also booked Khan under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for transfer of funds to overseas banks, ED Director Raman Gupta produced him before Special PMLA court judge Shivashankar for joint custody.
"The judge, however, granted the ED three-day custody of Khan for questioning him though the law enforcing agency sought a 10-day remand. We will seek his custody after the ED interrogates him," said the SIT official.
The SIT, set up by the Karnataka government in June to investigate the cheating case, has so far arrested 23 people, including seven directors of the IMA.
The Delhi Police produced Khan before Duty Magistrate Harjit Singh Jaspal in New Delhi on Friday night for transit remand to take him to Bengaluru where his company is headquartered.
Khan was arrested at the international airport early on Friday on arrival from Dubai on an Air India flight by the ED sleuths.
The major breakthrough in the mega scam for the ED and SIT came as a lookout or Blue Corner notice on Khan was issued to all concerned, including Interpol.
Khan's return to Bengaluru raises hopes of about 40,000 investors getting their money and jewellery they invested in his Ponzi scheme for huge returns.
Earlier report
Bengaluru, Jul 20 (IANS): The Enforcement Directorate officials brought IMA Jewellers and Ponzi scam prime accused Mansoor Khan to the city on Saturday, July 20.
Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate got transit remand of Mansoor Khan. He was produced before Duty Magistrate Harjit Singh Jaspal at his residence in New Delhi during late hours on Friday.
Around 3 am on Saturday, the ED team took Mansoor Khan to Bengaluru through a flight from Delhi, where he is expected to be produced before the designated court for further custody.
Khan was arrested by Delhi Police from New Delhi Airport on his arrival from Dubai earlier.
The major breakthrough in the IMA Gold multi-crore cheating case for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the SIT came as a lookout notice on Khan was issued to all concerned, including the Interpol, through the Union Home Ministry.
Khan, who is accused of perpetrating financial fraud worth crores in Bengaluru, was absconding for a month and was traced in Dubai and told to return to India.
"He had shared a video in which he claimed that he shall return to India in next 24 hours," SIT officer Mohammed said on its basis the arrest was made.
The development is expected to ease the ongoing investigation and the effort to return the money of thousands of investors.