Madhu Koda's associate sent to ten days in Enforcement Directorate custody

Ranchi, Nov 7(ANI): A local court on Saturday sent Vikas Sinha, an associate of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, to 10 days into the custody of Enforcement Directorate (ED) for his alleged role in the hawala transactions and the illegal investments.

Vikas Sinha, the brother of another associate Binod Sinha, Vikash, has been charged under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act by the ED.

Vikas, who was arrested on Friday, will now be sent to the Directorate's headquarters in Delhi for interrogations in the multi-crore scam.

The department has also issued a Red Corner notice against Koda and eight others for their alleged role in money laundering, diversion of state funds and indulging in huge illegal investments abroad.

An ED team from Delhi had earlier arrived in Ranchi to obtain documents on the alleged hawala transactions carried out by Koda and his associates. It intends to obtain material evidence and documents seized by the income tax department and source information from the records of the tax searches against Koda and others.

Nationwide raids were conducted for three days to unearth the assets of the former Jharkhand Chief Minister and his associates.

Koda is currently admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Apollo Hospital in Ranchi after he complained of a pain in his abdomen, giddiness and vomiting.

Income Tax sleuths have indicated that Madhu Koda will be arrested as soon as he is discharged from the hospital in Ranhi. (ANI)