Upset stomach will keep Koda in hospital
Team of doctors to review his health condition within days before deciding on discharge
Ranchi: Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, facing arrest after being accused of laundering Rs25 billion (Dh1.9 billion), will remain in hospital due to a stomach upset, doctors at the Apollo hospital here said on Saturday.
"The team of doctors will again review the health condition of Koda in a day or two and decide on his discharge," said Javed Akhtar, the hospital spokesperson.
Koda, now an independent MP from Singhbhum, faces arrest after the Income Tax department (IT) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) exposed a scam running into billions of rupees. Koda was hospitalised on November 3 once it became clear he would be arrested.
Ujjawal Choudhary, director of investigation with the IT department, yesterday said: "Right now we cannot specify the amount. But we've come across documents and information related to huge investments in Liberia, Thailand, Malaysia, Dubai and other countries.
"The IT and ED are together investigating the case and sharing documents seized from people during raids."
The directorate on Friday arrested Vikas Sinha, the brother of Vinod Sinha, the alleged kingpin of the illegal transactions.
According to sources, Vikas has admitted to sending Rs400 million abroad for Koda.
The ED sources say that they have found undisclosed assets worth Rs118 million with Vikas.
According to IT officials, Vinod sent Rs5.5 billion through hawala to countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Liberia.
The IT department had on November 2 asked Vinod, Sanjay Kumar Choudhary, Devendra Mukhiya, Basant Bhattacharya, Manoj Punamiya and Anil Bastawde to appear before it by 11 am on Friday. None of them turned up.
On October 9, the ED lodged a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Koda, three more former ministers as well as his associates Vinod and Chaudhary.
