The Hindu : New Delhi News : Raids continue as Koda goes to hospital

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Wednesday, Nov 04, 2009
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Raids continue as Koda goes to hospital

Ranchi: As raids continued on his premises, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, who is being grilled by the Income Tax officials in connection with alleged hawala transactions, was on Tuesday admitted to a hospital here after he complained of high blood pressure and stomach ache.

The IT officials, who have accused Mr. Koda of non-cooperation in the investigations, are ascertaining whether his complaint of illness is a ruse to duck further questioning. “He was admitted to hospital around noon after he complained of some ailment. He is in the intensive care unit. The doctors are attending on him and only after getting the pathological report can we say anything about the ailment,” a spokesman of the Abur Razzak Memorial Weavers Hospital Javed Akhtar told PTI.

One of the doctors attending on him said Mr. Koda was discharged from the hospital a week back after being treated for a kidney ailment. “Today, he came complaining of stomach ache and his blood pressure was high,” the doctor said, adding that a series of tests were being conducted on him.

Thirty-eight-year-old Mr. Koda is being questioned by IT officials in connection with alleged huge hawala transactions and illegal investments.

The officials claimed to have unearthed documents showing that the former Chief Minister had sent Rs 560 crore abroad through the hawala route.

Raids continued in Koda’s premises for the fourth day on Tuesday. Asked if Koda was cooperating with the IT officials, Director-General (IG-Investigation), Anjani Kumar, told reporters, “Not much. If I get proper support and cooperation, the investigation will conclude soon.”

The raids began on Saturday at 70 places in nine cities across the country including Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. The IT Department also set a November 6 deadline for six of Koda’s alleged aides to appear before them “to explain certain transactions and events” with a warning that if they failed to do so, they were liable for legal action. Binod Kumar Sinha, a close aide of Koda, is among six persons against whom the deadline for appearance has been set. Both Koda and Sinha were booked by the Enforcement Directorate.-- PTI

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