Bengaluru IMA scam: Here’s how 50 kg gold vanished in just 3 days

Bengaluru: In a video released last week, Mansoor Khan, the prime accused in the multi-crore IMA scam may have expressed his inclination to return to India, but as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues with its investigation back home in Bengaluru, more and more skeletons are tumbling out of the closet.

MyNation has learnt that Mansoor, three days before he fled the country, monetised gold weighing 50 kg by melting it. Not just that, it is learnt that he took measures to transport gold bullions to other parts of the country (or even abroad).

SIT sources revealed that Mansoor appeared before the then additional commissioner of police (crime) Alok Kumar and faced interrogation for as many as four hours on June 4. The next day he rushed to his office and prevailed upon his directors and staff to go on forced leave for five days.

While his directors and staff went on leave for five days, Mansoor had an entirely different ploy. Out of the five forced leaves, he went to his office on three consecutive days, took gold jewellery weighing 50 kg, got them melted and encashed them. He also took steps to transport the gold bullions elsewhere.

SIT sources further revealed that Mansoor used the hawala route to reclaim his assets.

What’s Hawala transaction?

Hawala transaction is a mode of transaction in which the sender sends the money to the intended recipient through middlemen, but without any physical money being involved.

In fact, the Interpol or the international police defines it as money “transfer without money movement.”

Though it is based on “trust” and is used to transfer money as the commission rates are less, it is illegal in many countries, including India as it involves hoodwinking and other nefarious aspects, with an intention to cheat and deceive. Therefore, it is referred to as “underground banking” as well.

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