Thaindian News

Ranchi, Nov 18 (IANS) Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, who faces charges of laundering Rs.2,500 crore, Wednesday addressed a rally in his hometown Chaibasa and sought the blessings of the people to overcome the present crisis.
“I need your blessings and support to break the conspiracy hatched against me,” Koda said while addressing the rally a day before his interrogation by Income Tax (IT) department officials.

The public meeting organised by his supporters was termed a ‘Hoonkar rally’ or a war cry, symbolising a show of strength. The IT and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have summoned him for questioning Thursday.

Koda told people in Chaibasa that he was being falsely implicated in the case.

“No one wants me to grow politically. People are jealous of my popularity and growth.”

His wife Geeta Koda, who is set to contest the coming polls starting Nov 25, also addressed the gathering.

On Nov 14, Koda kicked off his poll campaign in Chaibasa and told hundreds of his supporters that he would quit politics if charges against him in the Rs.2,500 crore money laundering scam were proved.

Koda disappeared from his Ranchi home Nov 13 and surfaced in his Lok Sabha constituency of Singhbhum in the evening. He has since then been trying to establish a connect with people in his constituency.

His supporters have floated the Jharkhand Navnirman Morcha (JNM) and announced the names of five candidates to contest the state assembly polls, starting Nov 25. Geeta Koda, his wife, is a nominee from the Jagganathpur constituency.

The IT department and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have conducted raids at 69 places in eight Indian cities, including 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, three former ministers as well as his associates Vinod Sinha and Sanjay Chaudhary.