Upset stomach saves Koda from arrest

Ranchi, Nov 7 : Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda got a reprieve from imminent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the Rs.2,500 crore money laundering case as doctors at the Apollo hospital here Saturday decided to keep him under medical examination for 'a day or two'.

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

The doctors said Koda has a stomach upset.

Koda, 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 during raids," he said.

Vikas Sinha, brother of Koda's close aide Vinod Sinha, was Saturday sent to ED custody for 10 days.

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. ED has issued an alert to all Indian airports to ensure they don't leave the country.

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

--IANS