Koda sent to 14-day judicial custody

Ranchi, Nov.30 (ANI): Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, who is allegedly in the Rs 2,000 crore money laundering scam, was on Monday evening sent to 14-day judicial custody.

The State vigilance bureau arrested him on Monday morning.

Koda, who is presently MP of Chaibasa, is faced with investigations from the vigilance department, Income Tax (IT) department and Enforcement Directorate (ED).

He was repeatedly avoiding appearance before the ED and the state vigilance bureau in the disproportionate assets (DA) case and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against him and his associates.

Earlier, the Enforcement Department (ED) had asked Koda to appear before it for questioning, but he skipped all questioning.

Koda has claimed he is innocent and added that all charges of illegal investment in various companies, were baseless.

He also alleged that his adversaries were playing dirty tricks to tarnish his image before the assembly polls and warned that he would expose them at an appropriate time.

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

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