Koda evades arrest, thanks to upset stomach

Ranchi, Nov 7: Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, facing arrest after being accused of laundering Rs.2,500 crore, will remain in hospital due to a stomach upset, doctors at the Apollo hospital here said Saturday.

"The team of doctors will again review the health condition of Koda in a day or two and decide on his discharge," said Javed Akhtar, the hospital spokesperson.

Koda -- now an independent MP from Singhbhum -- faces arrest after the Income Tax department (IT) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) exposed the scam running into thousands of crores. Koda was hospitalised Nov 3 once it became clear that he would be arrested.

Ujjawal Choudhary, director of investigation with the Income Tax department, Saturday said: "Right now we cannot specify the amount. But we have come across documents and information related to huge investments in Liberia, Thailand, Malaysia, Dubai and other countries."

"The IT and ED are together investigating the case and sharing documents seized from people during raids," he said.

The directorate Friday arrested Vikas Sinha, the brother of Vinod Sinha, the alleged kingpin of the illegal transactions.

According to sources, Vikas has admitted to sending Rs.40 crore abroad for Koda.

The ED sources say that they have found undisclosed assets worth Rs.11.8 crore with Vikas.

According to IT officials, Vinod sent Rs.550 crore through hawala to countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Liberia.

The IT department had Nov 2 asked Vinod, Sanjay Kumar Choudhary, Devendra Mukhiya, Basant Bhattacharya, Manoj Punamiya and Anil Bastawde to appear before it by 11 a.m. Friday. None of them turned up.

On Oct 9, the Enforcement Directorate lodged a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Koda, three more former ministers as well as his associates Vinod and Chaudhary.

--IANS