Lookout notices issued against two other key associates of the former CM.
In the first arrest in the Rs 2,000-crore illegal assets case involving former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, his close aide Vikas Sinha was picked up today while lookout notices were issued against another two key associates.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), meanwhile, is preparing to arrest Koda who is likely to be discharged from a Ranchi hospital tomorrow. Koda’s personal assistant Harendra was also questioned in Ranchi by the Income Tax Department.
Sources said that certain diaries seized during searches in connection with the case were “under scrutiny” and allegedly bears the names of some politicians and senior bureaucrats. Vikash, who was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by a local court in Ranchi, has been charged under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) etc of the Indian Penal Code and other provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to ED, Sinha in his I-T returns mentioned Rs 5,66,526 as income during 2006-07 and quadrapuled to Rs 24 lakh during 2007-08. The lookout notices were issued against Vikash Sinha’s brother Binod and Sanjay Chowdhury by ED, which called them “crucial” people in the case.
The searches carried out by the I-T department and the probe by ED has found that over Rs 40 crore Hawala transaction was made by Vikash Sinha. “Vikash accepted during questioning that he carried a cash of Rs 40 crore himself from Ranchi to Kolkata and transferred the money for Hawala transaction on behalf of his brother Binod and Koda,” sources said.
