Koda gifted 600 bikes to aides
Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, who was on Wednesday interrogated for his role in a Rs 2,500-crore money laundering scam, distributed hundreds of vehicles to supporters and used the mines department and electricity board to expand his financial empire, officials here said.
The Income-Tax department, meanwhile, issued arrest warrant against two key accused and Koda’s close aides Binod Sinha and Sanjay Chaudhari under a special case.
Koda, an independent Lok Sabha MP, purchased and distributed around 600 bikes, 25 to 30 Scorpios, Boleros and other four-wheelers to his supporters during the Lok Sabha elections this year, officials in the Income Tax department said.
On Tuesday, informed sources said, I-T sleuths searched two showrooms of motor bikes and four wheelers. They found that 200 bikes had been sold in one day from one showroom and have now sought help from the transport department to seek registration details.
Misusing position
Koda is also charged with misusing his position as mines and geology minister and later as chief minister. In the name of allocating mines, Koda allegedly sent a recommendation to the Centre suggesting a list of names for the lease of 17 iron ore mines, sources said.
The state government recommended to New Delhi the allocation of bauxite and limestone as well as survey work of gold and diamonds. He also used his influence to push certain private groups for the lease of coal blocks, an official said.
The list is long, he added.
Koda is also accused of disposing of 40 files related to mines in just one day in February 2008.
