Published on Sat, Oct 10, 2009 at 20:51, Updated on Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 11:21 in Politics section

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ed-books-exjharkhand-cm-for-money-laundering/103033-37.html

New Delhi: Enforcement Directorate has registered a case against former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda and three of his former Cabinet colleagues for alleged money laundering.

It has been alleged that Koda who had assets worth just a few lakhs is now worth Rs 400 crore.

Koda, who was an Independent MLA in the state Assembly, had created history in 2006 by becoming the chief minister of Jharkhand at the age of 35. Now he has created history again by becoming the first chief minister to be booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The enforcement directorate has charged Koda with diverting crores from Jharkhand treasury.

It has been alleged that Koda bought mines worth Rs 8 crore in the African republic of Liberia. But the real find for the ED is the investments made by close Koda aide Binod Sinha.

Allegedly a front for Koda, Sinha made over investments worth over Rs 200 crore in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Dubai and Singapore in various mines, steel and power projects.

Koda, meanwhile, called the allegations a political conspiracy

"I have nit invested in any company or any business. All allegations that I have made money using the wrong means are baseless," Koda said in Ranchi on Saturday.

It has also been alleged that Koda's former Cabinet colleagues, too, faithfully followed their leader.

Ministers Kamlesh Singh and Bandhu Tirkey also invested crores belonging to the state in their own name.

Kamlesh Singh bought properties and land in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Ranchi in different names. Bandhu Tirkey, who was the human resource development minister, bought flats over Rs 8 crore in Delhi.

"They should prove the allegations levelled against me in one week," demanded Bandhu Tirkey.

The declared assets of all three leaders are far less than what the ED has found, strengthening the agency's case that all three siphoned off money when they were in power.

This will also make the Congress uneasy as questions are bound to be raised why the Central Bureau of Investigation was quiet as long as Koda was a United Progressive Alliance ally.