STAFF WRITER 17:52 HRS IST   09 Oct 2009, 21:4 HRS IST

http://www.ptinews.com/news/322958_Former-Jhar-CM-Madhu-Koda-booked-under-PMLA

New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) A case was registered against former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda and three of his cabinet colleagues by the Enforcement Directorate today for alleged money laundering and diversion of state funds besides making huge investments abroad without legal sanction.

The ED filed a Enforcement Case Information Report (equivalent to a FIR) before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Ranchi against Koda, Kamlesh Singh, Bhanu Pratap Shahi and Bhandu Tirkey besides five others.

The ministers including Koda, who was the chief minister between February 2005 and August 2008, have been accused of amassing properties worth hundreds of crores including those in places like UAE, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Liberia.

Quoting from the ECIR, sources said Koda, who was the first independent candidate to become a chief minister, has been named for purchase of mines in Liberia worth USD 17 lakh (Rs 8.5 crore).