The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has quizzed IAS officer of 1988 Karnataka cadre Rajkumar Khatri in connection with its ongoing probe in I-Monetary Advisory (IMA) ponzi scam case on Wednesday, sources told ANI. The CBI is investigating allegations of IMA cheating 40,000 investors by promising high returns using Islamic ways of investment. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe the case which later on handed over the case to the CBI. In July the IMA founder Mohammed Mansoor Khan who had fled the country was arrested by the officials. 

Chargesheet filed by CBI

The CBI has already filed a chargesheet against Mansoor and 19 others in the alleged multi-crore ponzi scam case. The CBI has filed charge sheet against Mansoor Khan, seven of the company's directors, five members, one auditor and five companies related to IMA group for cheating, criminal conspiracy and breach of trust under relevant sections of IPC in a court here on September 7.

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Former Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan questioned

Earlier on Thursday, the CBI  questioned former Karanataka minister Zameer Ahmed Khan in connection with I-Monetary Advisory (IMA) scam in which lakhs of investors were allegedly duped by the company promising them high returns using Islamic ways of investment, sources said. The sources said that former Karnataka food and civil supplies minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan was called at the agency office where he was questioned by the CBI team probing the IMA scam.

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The probe

The CBI has already filed its first chargesheet against alleged mastermind Mansoor Khan and others on September 7, within eight days of taking over the case. The CBI had taken over the investigation into the case on August 30 night on the request of the Karanataka government, routed through the Centre, they said. The company IMA and its subsidiaries had allegedly duped over a lakh investor, mostly Muslims, promising high returns using Islamic ways of investment. "It was alleged that the founder-director (Khan) of group of entities based at Bangalore had illegally collected deposits from the public in the form of investments in various Ponzi schemes such as monthly plan, education plan, marriage plan, etc., with a promise of getting high returns," a CBI spokesperson had said after the FIR.

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The IMA ponzi scam

More than one lakh people had invested in the IMA Jewels which started 17 companies. Khan invited people, mostly Muslims, to invest in five companies, said the SIT, adding that Rs. 4,084 crore was invested in the company. He has to refund approximately Rs. 1,400 crore to his investors, the SIT said. Around one and half months ago, Khan had fled to Dubai leaving thousands of investors in the lurch. Khan had promised them that he would return to India and refund their money.

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