ED probing role of Koda's cabinet colleagues

According to sources, the role of Koda's former cabinet colleagues is being probed as during IT searches certain documents have surfaced which indicate that state funds were diverted and used for hawala transactions and illegal investments.

After a Ranchi court on Saturday sent Vikash Sinha, an associate of Madhu Koda, to its custody, the ED is probing the role of cabinet colleagues of the former Jharkhand chief minister in obtaining and routing of money which was later allegedly used for hawala transactions.

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Vikash, who was remanded to a day's judicial custody on Friday, will now, in all possibility, be brought to the ED headquarters in New Delhi for interrogation on Sunday.

According to sources, the role of Koda's former cabinet colleagues is being probed as during IT searches certain documents have surfaced which indicate that state funds were diverted and used for hawala transactions and illegal investments.

While Koda's former cabinet colleagues Enos Ekka and Hari Narayan Rai had been charged under Prevention of Money Laundering Act on September 4 this year by the ED, the Directorate had earlier filed a Enforcement Case Information Report (equivalent to an FIR) before a PMLA court in Ranchi against former ministers Kamlesh Singh, Bhanu Pratap Shahi and Bhandu Tirkey, besides five others.

Under the scanner of the ED and IT authorities is alleged diversion of the mineral-rich state's funds pertaining to electrification projects and money obtained from transfers and postings of officers in various departments of Jharkhand.

The money was allegedly invested in properties and purchase of shares of various companies by Koda and his associates, sources said.