IMA Khan didn’t fly guests to my son’s wedding: Roshan Baig to SIT

BENGALURU: Former Congress minister and Shivajinagar MLA Roshan Baig, who was picked up late Monday night for questioning by the SIT probing the IMA case, denied the firm’s founder-owner Mohammed Mansoor Khan had sponsored a flight to ferry guests for his son’s wedding.
Baig was allowed to go home by the investigators around 1.30pm on Tuesday, after he was put through two interrogation sessions: from 11.30pm Monday to 4am Tuesday, and 10.30am to 1.30pm, SIT sources said.
Baig was allowed to sleep for a while in the early hours of the day. Elder son Ruman accompanied Baig. SIT sources said they brought Baig to the CID office where he was questioned by SIT superintendent of police S Girish and a couple of inspectors.
Sources said Baig claimed he knew Khan for about five years. He told interrogators he met Khan at a religious ceremony where some religious leaders introduced them.
Khan’s claims baseless: MLA
Asked whether he had had monetary transactions with Khan, Baig said the IMA founder had purchased a journal from him years ago and he will have to consult his accountants for details about it. Baig also claimed to have helped Khan in taking over a government-run school.
Asked if Khan sponsored a chartered airplane during his son’s wedding, Baig reportedly replied in the negative. “Why should he? I paid all the expenses and I’ve the documents to prove it. It’s a long time since the marriage. I’ve forgotten some issues,” Baig was quoted as saying.
Baig said Khan’s claims that he (the MLA) was responsible for IMA firm’s bad times were false and baseless.
‘Political vendetta’
Emerging from the SIT office at CID Headquarters on Palace Road around 1.30pm on Tuesday, former minister Roshan Baig termed his detention ‘political vendetta’. It was Baig’s 68th birthday when he was detained at Kempegowda International Airport on Monday night.
“I was about to fly to Pune on work when SIT detained me. The detention was the result of miscommunication triggered by political vendetta. I’ve answered their questions and will return on July 19 for further investigation. SIT has told me I can fly anywhere in the country,” he said. On Monday, Baig had sought more time to appear before SIT, citing his granddaughter’s poor health. But SIT permitted Baig to appear before it on July 19.
Further, sources said Baig and SIT superintendent of police S Girish exchanged a few words inside VIP terminal of the airport on Monday night. On a tipoff that Baig was about to leave in a chartered flight, Girish rushed to KIA around 10pm. Girish is said to have accosted Baig inside the terminal when the latter was about to board a flight.
Girish is believed to have asked Baig to join him for questioning. “Do you have a warrant,” Baig was quoted as asking Girish. After Girish said he was an officer of SP rank and had the power to detain Baig, the lawmaker called his advocates before agreeing to join the SIT officer for questioning.