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Authorities seal Koda’s house, probe Swiss links |
IANS/Ranchi
Authorities yesterday sealed the home of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda amid allegations that he amassed illegal assets worth billions of rupees. They are also investigating reports that he has stashed away money in Swiss banks, sources said.
As his Ranchi home was raided, income tax officials allegedly seized four currency counting machines, investment documents, cash, jewellery, a laptop and computer hard disk, the sources said.
“Koda’s Ranchi house has been sealed. We have concluded the search operation at his residence and seized vital documents and other materials,” an official of the IT department said.
Evaluation and verification of the seized material will be carried out. IT and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials will question Koda, now a Lok Sabha MP, over allegations that he plundered more than Rs20bn ($400mn) while he was mines minister and later chief minister of the eastern state.
He was admitted to Apollo Hospital on Tuesday after he complained of stomachache, vomiting and high blood pressure. The ED has asked the hospital for a report.
“His condition is stable and he will be shifted to the general ward. We have received a letter from the Enforcement Directorate and we will submit a report on his health status,” Apollo Hospital spokesman Javed Akhtar said.
According to the sources, the IT department has traced a person who allegedly helped get hundreds of millions of rupees belonging to Koda deposited in a Swiss bank. The name and identity of the person has been withheld in the interest of investigation.
During interrogation, Koda is learnt to have admitted making unpublicised trips to foreign countries while he was the mines and geology department minister from March 2005 to September 2006, the sources said.
At that time, Arjun Munda was the chief minister of Jharkhand. In the past, he too has accused Koda of making foreign visits without informing him.
According to the sources, Koda had visited Liberia, Bangkok and Dubai without informing Munda. Under protocol, a minister should inform the chief minister if he makes a foreign visit.
The IT department and ED have conducted raids at 70 places in eight Indian cities in connection with corruption allegations against Koda and his associates. |
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