Enforcement Directorate registers case against Madhu Koda

Ranchi, Oct 10(ANI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a case against former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and eight others on Saturday for alleged money laundering, diversion of State funds and making huge illegal investments abroad.

The ED filed an Enforcement Case Information Report before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi on Saturday.

Koda, 38, has been booked under the PMLA along with three of his State Cabinet colleagues Kamlesh Singh, Bhanu Pratap Shahi and Bhandu Tirkey, besides five others.

"Case has been registered against nine people. It has been said in the report that these people have accumulated billions of rupees through criminal activities. The money has been used to set up factories and firms in India and oversees, and through illegal ways the money has been invested oversees," said SR Das, an Enforcement Directorate official.

Koda, who became the state Chief Minister in 2006 as an independent legislator, has been alleged to have purchased mines in several countries with money accumulated through criminal activities.

Meanwhile, Bhandu Tirkey said that the case was a conspiracy to malign his political career.

"It is a conspiracy to malign me. I am not going to be scared of it. Within a week ED should substantiate the allegations against me. Otherwise, I will sue ED and the vigilance department. I am discussing this with my legal advisor," Tirkey said. (ANI)