New Delhi:
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda's close aide Sanjay Chaudhary, alleged to have been behind dubious investments of the leader, was arrested in the UAE today under charges of extracting illegal gratification from a Mumbai based firm seeking mining lease in Jharkhand.
Chaudhary, in connivance with other accused in the case, is alleged to have extracted illegal gratification to the tune of Rs 13 crore from one Mumbai based company for showing favour in the matter of allotment of lease for iron-ore mining in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, CBI said in a statement here.
"Sanjay Kumar Choudhary, a key conspirator and co-accused of the then Chief Minister of Jharkhand has been arrested in Dubai, as per information received from Interpol, UAE on the basis of a Red Corner Notice, issued at the request of CBI," CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said.
The Red Corner Notice is the closest instrument to an international arrest warrant.
She said CBI will start proceedings to extradite Chaudhary from the UAE.
Chaudhary, against whom a Red Corner Notice has been issued by the CBI, is alleged to be a key confidant of Koda who was arrested by the agency on the charges of money laundering, disproportionate assets and tax evasion and is presently lodged in Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi, agency sources said here.
"The Court of Special Judge, Ranchi has issued a permanent warrant of arrest against Sanjay Kumar Choudhary and subsequently Interpol India had issued the Red Corner Notice on 14th October, 2011," Mishra said.
Chaudhary is also facing allegation of helping the former CM in routing his alleged illegal investments to various foreign shores including Liberia and the UAE and the Enforcement Directorate has an arrest warrant pending against him, sources said.
Koda was arrested on November 30, 2009 and is in judicial custody along with Sinha while Chaudhary was absconding till his arrest today.
Last year, CBI had filed a charge sheet against Koda and his two aides Binod Sinha and Sanjay Chaudhary on November 12, 2010 in the court of a special judge in Ranchi under 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The charge sheet accused Koda of misusing his position to allegedly benefit Sinha and Sanjay Choudhary in taking "bribes" from various companies in the allotment of lease of iron mines.
ccording to a senior ED official, the investigating agency would seek Choudhary's extradition, which may take one or two months.
He said Choudhary would be "brought to justice".
Sources said the CBI may also seek for a separate interrogation of Choudhary, who is one of the prime accused in the Koda scam and had evaded arrest even after the Income Tax department had on November 11, 2009 issued warrants.
The charge sheet filed against Koda by the CBI and the ED accused Choudhary as one of the two associates of the former chief minister who had allegedly got contracts to the companies of their choice during the Koda regime between 2007 and 2008.
Binod Sinha, now in judicial custody along with Koda, is the other alleged aide of the independent MP.