Ranchi, Nov 29 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Arun Jaitely Sunday alleged that the Congress party had “corrupted” former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, who is at the centre of a Rs.2,500 crore money laundering scam, and that the investigation against him may “lose direction”.
“The Congress corrupted Koda. He was under control when he was in the BJP. The investigation against Koda has been slowed down and may lose direction,” Jaitely told reporters here Sunday.

He said: “In any investigation, either the local police investigates or the CBI investigates the case. In the Koda scam, no such agency has been entrusted with the job of investigation…Congress talks about the Right to Information (RTI) Act, but why is the UPA government not making the Koda diary public?”

“Congress appointed the governor (former Jharkhand governor and present governor of Assam Syed Sibte Razi) and installed Madhu Koda as the chief minister. Both people are at the centre of corruption,” said Jaitely.

He said: “The independents have no stake in the system and the BJP will not seek support of such people.”

“We appeal to the people to vote for a stable, credible government which can maintain good law and order situation…” said the BJP leader.

Koda faces charges of laundering Rs.2,500 crore. The IT department and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have conducted raids at 69 places in eight Indian cities, including at Koda’s home, since Oct 31. Koda, however, insists the raids were motivated.

On Oct 9, the Enforcement Directorate lodged a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Koda, and three former ministers as well as his associates Vinod Sinha and Sanjay Chaudhary.