IT officials conduct nationwide raids on ex-Jharkhand CM Koda

New Delhi, Oct. 31 (ANI): Income tax officials conducted nationwide raids on Saturday at various addresses linked with former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and his associates.

According to sources, the IT officials raided 65 addresses associated with Koda as the Enforcement Directorate was working to strengthen the money laundering case against him.

On October 9, the Enforcement Directorate had charged Koda and his former Cabinet colleagues under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for allegedly amassing assets worth several hundred crores.

His former associates who have also been booked under PMLA include --Bhanu Pratap Shahi, Bandhu Tirkey and Kamlesh Singh.

Their assets were said to be running between 700-800 crore rupees.

Koda, an independent member of Lok Sabha and a UPA supporter, has been charged with having business interests of diverse kinds - cement, steel, auto, power, agro and tourism.

Estimated at 300-400 crore rupees, his investments are alleged to be spread from Singapore to Thailand to Dubai to Liberia. (ANI)