Koda discharged, sleuths resume interrogation
I-T officials scrutinise his mining deals
The interrogation of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, who is under the scanner for allegedly amassing over Rs 2,000 crore, resumed on Sunday after he was discharged from a private hospital.
Koda was admitted to Apollo Hospital on November 3 after he complained of stomach ache during interrogation at his official residence. However, soon after his release, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (I-T) took Koda to his official residence which was sealed by the taxmen on November 4 after a five-day long search operation by the IT sleuths.
Uncooperative
“The officials are not getting much cooperation from Koda during the interrogation. The officials have prepared a set of questions regarding various investment made by Koda and his associates. He is being quizzed on illegal transactions, money sent to foreign countries through Hawala and other investments made in the foreign countries,” official sources said.
However, earlier in the day, Koda pleaded his innocence. “I am innocent. All the charges being leveled against me are false,” he told the reporters at Apollo Hospital at the time of his discharge. “Ask them what the documents they have with them”—was his reply when asked about evidences gathered by IT officials.
To a query, he said, “I know Binod Sinha (one of the key kingpin of the money laundering) but there is no business involvement with him.”
Meanwhile, IT officials have initiated the process of scrutinising the mining deals made by Koda, who served as mine minister in the Arjun Munda government and later retained the portfolio with him during his tenure of chief minister.
The ED has issued fresh summons, asking Koda to appear before it on November 15 in New Delhi. On Oct 9, the Enforcement Directorate lodged a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Koda and his associates.
The I-T department conducted raids at 70 locations, and investment records allegedly belonging to Koda and his six close associates were seized during raids in Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Jaipur, Delhi, Jamshedpur, Ranchi and Chaibasa.
Vikas Sinha, arrested by ED on Friday, was taken to New Delhi. The special PMLA court allowed the ED sleuths the transit remand of Vikas Sinha for 10 days. Vikas would be questioned on illegal dealings and other money laundering activities which were carried by him on behalf of his brother, sources said.
