This Article is From Nov 03, 2009

Charged with corruption, Koda heads to hospital

Ranchi: In the time-honoured tradition of Indian politicians, Madhu Koda hasfallen sick bang in the middle of an investigation against him.

So the former chief minister of Jharkhand made his first publicappearance in days on a stretcher, being rushed into Emergency Care ata Ranchi hospital. Doctors attending on him say he shows "symptoms ofnausea and stomach pain."

Koda's discomfort is likely to grow. Accused of collecting assets worth4000 crores, raids on Koda's properties point to a gigantic empire fromMumbai to Africa, with swanky hotels and a mine in Liberia. Binod Sinhaand Sanjeev Chaudhury, both local businessmen, were his allegedfrontmen. Both have disappeared.

The investigation is being led by the Income Tax and EnforcementDirectorate, which looks into violations of foreign exchangeregulations.

A firm in Mumbai where Koda allegedly parked 500 crores denies anyinvolvement. "Two years ago, Binod Sinha invested 12 lakh rupees withus, but we returned the money to him. Madhu Koda has not even invested100 rupees in our firm," comments Pramod Pumaniya, Director, BalajiUniversal Trade Link .

Koda, chief minister of Jharkhand between 2006 and 2008, claims thecorruption charges are a conspiracy to discredit him before the statevotes later this month for its next government.

From emergency ailments to political conspiracy charges, Koda's movesfit in with standard procedure for politicians who find they have a lotof explaining to do.
.