Ranchi:
The investigations into the multi-crore transnational money-laundering scam, allegedly involving former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, are now widening beyond India's borders.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is all set to send letters to five countries seeking details of investments there by Koda and his friends.
The five countries are Indonesia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Liberia and Thailand.
The ED is in the process of issuing Letters Rogatory that are letters of request sent by a court to a foreign court, to obtain information through a formal channel.
Koda and his men are accused of illegally transferring crores abroad for investing in various ventures, including mining in Liberia.
Meanwhile, an Income Tax Department team from Ranchi has arrived in New Delhi to share documents seized by the department during its nationwide searches at over 70 premises of the former CM and his associates. Income Tax officials will now take action against two of Koda's closest aides - Binod Sinha and Sanjay Choudhury, who missed Wednesday's deadline to appear before investigators.
Koda aides don't show upWhile the former CM's interrogation was on for the second day on Wednesday, businessmen Binod Sinha and Sanjay Choudhary, the two men who are crucial links to the case, missed the Income Tax Department's deadline to appear before investigators.
Sources said that Binod Sinha in particular, had sent feelers to investigators that he would indeed show up by 4 pm, but that did not happen. Now, I-T officials say they will take action.
"Binod Sinha and Sanjay Choudhary did not turn up for the interrogation. Arrest warrants have been issued against them," said I-T commissioner Ajit Srivastava.
However, Sinha's lawyer Neeraj Pandey said, "I am in touch with Binod, he wants to cooperate."
Another key aide of Koda, Devendra Mukhiya, told NDTV that he knew about Koda's misdeeds, but was not part of them. Mukhiya, a Noida-based businessman, is being questioned by the Income Tax Department...
"Madhu's Koda personal secretary asked me to find out if Sanjay Choudhary had said anything about the factories in Thailand. I told him I had no information. Then he told me to find out details about Koda's hotels in Kuwait and business in Dubai and African countries. I went to former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren's residence. Soren asked for Koda's support. Koda demanded Rs 3 crore for offering support but Shibu Soren refused," said Mukhiya who is a businessman.
Sources have told NDTV that Mukiya might be used as a witness against Koda. That's why he hasn't been arrested yet.
Meanwhile the focus has shifted to two cities, Dubai and Mumbai. Sources say there are specific indications of investments in Dubai, and Koda is being questioned about them.
And in Mumbai, a hawala dealer allegedly deposited Rs 70 crore in a reputed bank in a month after selling gold to jewellers in the city. This gold was allegedly bought using Koda's wealth.