Nov 21, 2009
 
Upset Stomach Delays Koda's Arrest, IT Continues Digging
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The Income Tax authorities today took into possession some files relating to allotment of mining leases since 2004 when Madhu Koda, who is accused of hawala transactions, was the Jharkhand Mines Minister.

"We examined some files where mining leases were allotted since 2004," Income Tax Commissioner (Patna), Ajay Kumar told newsmen. Koda, now an independent MP, was Mines minister in the BJP government of Arjun Munda in 2004.

Asked whether any new face had come under the scanner in the Rs 2000 crore hawala and illegal investments scam that Koda and his associates were allegedly involved in, he said "We are in the process of investigation, and I can't say now."

Koda was not discharged from hospital today as he had an upset stomach.

He got himself admitted to the hospital on complaints of stomach pain on November three after the launch of Income Tax raids on his residence in connection with alleged hawala transactions and illegal investments amounting to Rs 2000 crore.

The Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department have instructed the hospital to inform them before his discharge.

Additional Investigating Director Ajit Srivastav said doctors would decide tomorrow on Koda's release.

Koda was admitted to the hospital on complaints of stomach pain on November three after the launch of Income Tax raids on his properties.

On the files recovered, Srivastava said, they were seized during the countrywide raids since Saturday on 76 premises, including the residences of Koda.

Srivastav denied having come across any diary that allegedly revealed names of politicians, bureaucrats and journalists. "Our operation is not concentrated on any particular profession," he said.

During the day, the Enforcement Directorate and the IT department questioned two persons each, but Koda's key associates, Binod Sinha and Sanjay Choudhary, against whom lookout notices have been served, did not appear.

In the evening, a special ED court allowed the Enforcement Directorate to take Vikas Sinha, the brother of Binod, on ten days remand for questioning.

Sinha, who was the first to be arrested yesterday after the scam surfaced last weekend, will now be taken to the Enforcement Directorate's headquarters in the national capital for interrogation to probe into the charge of money laundering on behalf of Koda, Binod Sinha and others, sources said.

Sinha has been charged under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and other provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act by the ED.

According to the ED, Sinha, in his Income Tax returns, mentioned Rs 5,66,526 as income during 2006-07 which quadrupled to Rs 24 lakh during 2007-08.
Filed At: Nov 07, 2009 14:11 IST ,  Edited At: Nov 07, 2009 14:11 IST
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