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The Rs 4,000-crore money laundering scam involving former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda has taken a new turn today with the Enforcement Directorate pointing fingers at five Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers.
Out of the five officers, three are still serving. Income tax sleuths have already begun questioning the senior level officials who are posted as secretaries at present. Koda was arrested on Monday evening and sent to 14-days judicial custody.
Koda, who is presently the MP of Chaibasa, is facing investigations from the vigilance department, the Income Tax (IT) department and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
He has repeatedly avoided an appearance before the ED and the state vigilance bureau in the disproportionate assets (DA) case and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against him and his associates.
The Enforcement Department (ED) had earlier asked Koda to appear before it for questioning, but he skipped all questioning.
Koda has claimed he is innocent and added that all charges of illegal investment in various companies, were baseless.
He also alleged that his adversaries were playing dirty tricks to tarnish his image before the assembly polls and warned that he would expose them at an appropriate time.
On October 9, the ED had charged Koda and his former Cabinet colleagues under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for allegedly amassing assets worth several hundred crores.
Koda, an independent member of the Lok Sabha and a UPA supporter, has been charged with having business interests of diverse kinds, including in cement, steel, auto, power, agro and tourism.