Former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda acquitted by HC

, March 7: Former chief minister

, who is in jail over corruption charges, got some relief Thursday when the

High Court acquitted him in one of the graft cases filed against him. He will remain in prison due to other matters.

Justice R R Prasad acquitted Koda in a case linked to the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board scandal due to lack of evidence.

In this case, Koda was accused of misusing his position as chief minister between 2006-08 to issue no objection certificates to crusher units.

The charges against Koda and his associates were framed in 2010 by the trial court. The case was being investigated by the state vigilance department.

Koda moved Jharkhand seeking to quash the first information report (FIR). The high court quashed the FIR due to lack of evidence.

The acquittal comes as relief to Koda who is facing graft, money laundering and other cases.

Koda is in jail for last three and half years and he has been granted bail in four of the five different cases.

The money laundering scandal against Koda involved Rs 2,500 crore, said a probe agency.

IANS