The Special Investigation Team (SIT) recovered ₹2.5 crore in cash from former DC, Bengaluru (Urban) B.M. Vijayshankar who was arrested in connection with his alleged involvement in the I Monetary Advisory (IMA) investment scam. The police say that the IAS officer, now suspended, received the cash as a bribe from the IMA Group and for another case.
“Investigations revealed that Vijayshankar had received a bribe of ₹1.5 crore from IMA founder Mohammed Mansoor Khan to file a favourable report of the company, leading to his arrest. A further probe revealed that the official had paid this money to a builder to buy a flat and a site. We have recovered this money from the builder as proceeds of crime,” said a senior SIT official.
The SIT has claimed that their probe has uncovered another case of bribery in which the former DC had taken ₹1 crore and handed over the money to the same builder. The SIT has recovered that money as well, taking the total recovery to ₹2.5 crore.
“We will hand over this money to the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) with a special report for further action under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988,” said a SIT official.
A city court remanded Vijayshankar and former assistant commissioner L.C. Nagaraj in judicial custody till July 25. They were lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.
The IMA Group had signed an MoU with a private firm to build a skywalk and paid ₹1.5 crore to the firm. The firm has now handed over the money as a Demand Draft to the SIT, as it is now considered proceeds of crime.
The SIT has arrested a rowdy and his associate for trespassing into an IMA property on Richmond Road. They have been identified as Muneer, 50, and Brigade Babu, 45. The duo had forged documents to take possession of the property, the SIT said.
