Bengaluru: On Wednesday evening, the Shivajinagar police who have set up a special counter at the AS Auditorium of the Shivajinagar to receive the complaints related to the IMA scam had a shock of their life. A group of people in torn and shabby clothes approached them and lodged a complaint that they too have lost Rs 70 lakhs in the IMA fraud.

The group in engaged in housekeeping services and honey collection. At first, police were not ready to believe and tried to send them away assuming that they are trying to mislead the police. But when they produced documents, the police had to believe them.

This 10-member tribal family migrated from Odisha after selling their land. They are engaged in honeybee collection, house maid service etc. They keep on travelling to Chikkamagaluru, Chamarajanagar, etc. They had invested Rs.70 lakhs in the company in 2014.

“As per the agreement, we are supposed to receive Rs.1.40 crores this June 15. But now we have lost everything,” they informed police.

According to the police, even beggars, destitute and transgenders have also invested a huge sum in this company. “Flexible documentation, high return were the two reasons for the investment,” observe the police.