On a day former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda managed to evade arrest owing to an upset stomach, Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials began probing his role in awarding mine, iron-ore and coal block contracts to business houses. On Saturday, investigators asked B.B. Singh and R.N. Prasad, officials of the state mines department, for files related to awarding of mines leases and contracts.

Koda was the chief minister of Jharkhand from September 2006 to August 2008.

Appearing before the media for the first time since the raids began, Koda’s wife Geeta Biruli said she wasn’t afraid of her husband’s likely arrest.

“Let income tax and ED officials do their job,” said Biruli, who is likely to contest the assembly polls from Jagannathpur constituency.

“I have faith in the government machinery and judiciary. I am sure he will come out clean.”

According to reports, Koda’s wife sacrificed 11 goats at the Maa Chhinmastike Temple in Ramgarh district, about 40 km from Ranchi, to appease the deity and pray for his well being.

On Saturday, Koda’s aide Vikash Sinha was handed over to the ED on a 10-day remand. Later Sinha was taken to Delhi for further questioning in the matter of hawala (illegal money transfer) transactions.

Earlier the directorate had filed an Enforcement Case Information Report before a special court here against former ministers Kamlesh Singh, Bhanu Pratap Shahi and Bandhu Tirkey.

Koda himself got a reprieve. “A four-member team of doctors will take a decision tomorrow on the day of his discharge,” said ARA Memorial Weavers

Hospital spokesman Javed Akhtar.

The ED and I-T have instructed the hospital to inform them before his discharge.