Koda aide caught on arrival from Dubai

The immigration authorities apprehended Manoj Punamiya, a close aide of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, when he arrived from Dubai late Saturday night.

The immigration authorities apprehended Manoj Punamiya, a close aide of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, when he arrived from Dubai late Saturday night.

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Punamiya was apprehended at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport as a look-out notice was issued against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Punamiya owns Balaji Group, a bullion company in Zaveri Bazar. The company had allegedly transferred Koda’s Rs 1,500 crore abroad through hawala (transfer of money through illegal channel). The Income-Tax authorities in Mumbai raided the company in October last year.

ED joined the investigation as the case involved money laundering. The two agencies are now investigating Koda for illegally amassing wealth to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore.

The I-T and ED last year questioned Punamiya in connection with the transfer of Koda’s money. During the last few months, the ED could not find him for further questioning.

“He was not responding to our summons,” an ED official said.

After apprehending him, the immigration authorities handed over Punamiya to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). Punamiya was jointly questioned by DRI and ED officials who had arrived from Delhi on Sunday. The ED team took Punamiya to Delhi for detailed questioning.

Last month, they had apprehended Arvind Vyas, another Koda aide who is also a Director in Punamiya’s Balaji Group.