Observing that the probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged scam by the IMA Group of companies cannot be delayed for want of notification, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the Union government issue the necessary notification at the earliest.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Mohammad Nawaz issued the direction after the CBI counsel said that the agency is yet to receive authorisation from the Union government as per the law to take over the probe based on the sanction granted by the State government on August 19.
The bench was hearing PIL petitions seeking direction for protecting the interests of people who had invested their money with IMA Group of companies.
The bench directed the State government to seek the court’s permission if authorities, under any exigency, want to transfer IAS office Harsh Gupta, who has been appointed as competent authority under the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Act, 2004 for the IMA case.
Forensic audit
Meanwhile, the government informed the bench that the committee, constituted for the purpose of scrutinising the responses to the Expression of Interest for selection of forensic auditors, submitted its final report on August 27 recommending M/s Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP., at their bid of ₹1.4 crore plus forensic imaging charges of ₹40,000 per device (like laptop, computer and mobile phone), and ₹1 lakh per server, excluding taxes.
The Competent Authority for the IMA case has recommended the same firm for the government’s consideration and appointment as the forensic auditor, it has been said in the status report submitted to the court.
Biscuits of gold
The counsel for some of the petitioners sought clarity on seizure of biscuits made of gold by the Special Investigation Team from a property belonging to accused persons. Some media reports had said that they were only gold-plated biscuits. The bench directed the SIT to submit particulars of the seizure in a sealed cover during the next hearing on September 16.
