Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 14: Disqualified MLA Roshan Baig, whose name is linked with the IMA Ponzi scam involving hundreds of crores of rupees, chose to absent from the questioning session that was fixed for Tuesday August 13 by the special investigation team (SIT) investigating the scam.

With this, the number of times the seasoned politician has avoided appearance before the SIT has reached five and he has been putting forth one or the other reason for his absence.

The SIT had served a notice on July 31, asking Baig to be present before it on August 13. As Baig failed to appear without assigning any reason, SIT sources said that they would soon fix date for the next questioning session.

Main accused in the scam, Mansoor Khan, in an audio and video clip he had released at the time of his fleeing, had said that he had given Rs 400 crore to Roshan Baig. SIT had asked Baig to be present before it in this connection on July 11. But Baig had escaped from the questioning citing health problem and Haj pilgrimage. For the next four notices too he had escaped by putting forth different reasons. August 13 was fifth such date fixed for the appearance of Baig.

Mansoor Khan unwell

Mansoor Khan, the main conspirator in the scam, would be in SIT custody till August 16, after which he would be handed over to judicial custody. As he has been suffering from heart-related ailments, his health is being closely monitored by a senior doctor of Jayadeva Heart Hospital and a doctor has been kept with him at all times for monitoring his health, SIT police officers stated.