The Enforcement Directorate on Friday issued notice to Karnataka minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan to appear before it in connection with the IMA group ponzi scam, a top official of the agency said.
"We have issued a notice to Zameer Ahmed Khan. We have given one week's time to appear before us," the official told PTI.
The minister said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has asked him to furnish details about the sale of a property to IMA group managing director Mohammed Mansoor Khan by July 5.
The ED had recently filed acriminal case of money laundering against the IMA group ofcompanies and its absconding managing director Mohammed Mansoor Khan after reports emerged that he has goneunderground fearing investments worth crores of about 40,000 investors have tanked.
Zameer Ahmed Khan admitted that two ED officials served him a notice tofurnish details about the sale of a property to Mohammed Mansoor Khan by July 5.
"Yes, the ED officers have issued summons.They haveasked me to furnish details.Two people had come.
They haveasked me to furnish details by July 5 regarding the property Ihad sold (to Mansoor Khan). I will give the details," theminister said.
The ED Friday said it has attached IMA Jewels' assets, worth Rs 209 crore, in its money laundering probe into the alleged ponzi scam.
The central agency said its Bengaluru zonal office hasissued a provisional order, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, for attachment of immovable assets worth Rs 197 crore and about Rs 12 crore deposits in bank accounts.
Speaking to reporters, Zameer Ahmed Khan wondered how the ED got involved in the investigation but he welcomed the probe and even battedfor a CBI investigation, saying economically weaker peoplewill get justice and their money back.
He clarified that he has not received any notice from the special investigation team constituted by the Karnataka government to probe the alleged IMA fraud.
The BJP's Karnataka unit recently demanded a CBI probe into the alleged fraud and also raised questions about Zameer Khan's alleged links with Mansoor Khan.
"While asking him (Mansoor) to come back, Zameer, who is a minister, has said that 'the government is with you (Mansoor), don't fear'.
What does this mean? The chief minister has to answer," state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa had said.
Hitting back at Yeddyurappa, Zameer Khan had said it was he who took the initiative after the incident came to light and sought a SIT probe.
Mansoor Khan went absconding weeks ago, after he, in an audio clip, allegedly threatened to commit suicide.
After the audio clip went viral, panicked investors, most of them Muslims, had swarmed the firm's office at Shivajinagar here in thousands, demanding action against the owner and directors.
Mansoor Khan had also alleged that Shivajinagar Congress MLA Roshan Baig took Rs 400 crore from him and was not returning it, a charge rubbished by Baig.