Thaindian News

Ranchi, Nov 5 (IANS) A diary seized by the Income Tax (IT) officials from the residence of former chief minister Madhu Koda may reveal names of many people, including politicians and journalists, who received part of his ill-gotten wealth, official sources said Thursday.
According to sources in the Income Tax department, the diary has names of politicians who were instrumental in formation of his government and ensured its survival in periods of crisis.

The source said that the diary has names of Bihar and Maharashtra politicians.

In 2005, Koda and four Independents gave support to a Bharatiya Janata Party government. But in September 2006, he withdrew the support and formed his own government with the help of the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

Apart from politicians, many journalists have also reportedly received largesse from Koda, the source said.

The Income Tax department earlier revealed names of two journalists who were beneficiaries of the Koda’s money laundering schemes.

Arup Chatterji, who till September was a reporter with Sahara news channel and is now planning to open his own channel, and Prem Shankaran, a contractor who has started a Hindi newspaper, have allegedly taken money from Koda.

On Wednesday, Income Tax officials sealed Koda’s residence. They seized four note counting machines, investment documents, cash, jewellery, a laptop and computer hard disk, sources said.

The Income Tax department and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have conducted raids at 70 places in eight Indian cities in connection with corruption allegations against Koda and his associates.

On Oct 9, the ED lodged a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Koda and three former ministers Kamlesh Singh, Bhanu Pratap Shahi and Bandhu Tirkey.