Close aide of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, Sanjay Chaudhary, alleged to have been behind dubious investments of the leader, was arrested in the UAE on Wednesday.
Mr. Chaudhary, against whom a Red Corner Notice has been issued by the CBI, is alleged to be a key confidant of Koda who was arrested by the agency on the charges of money laundering, disproportionate assets and tax evasion and is presently lodged in Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi, agency sources said. The Red Corner Notice is the closest instrument to an international arrest warrant.
Mr. Chaudhary is considered to have helped the former CM in routing his alleged illegal investments to various foreign shores including Liberia and the UAE and the Enforcement Directorate has an arrest warrant pending against him, he said.
Last year, CBI had filed a charge sheet against Koda and his two aides Binod Sinha and Sanjay Chaudhary in the court of a special judge in Ranchi under 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The charge sheet accused Mr. Koda of misusing his position to allegedly benefit Mr. Sinha and Mr. Sanjay Choudhary in taking “bribes” from various companies in the allotment of lease of iron mines.
Mr. Koda was arrested on November 30, 2009 and is in judicial custody along with Mr. Sinha while Mr. Chaudhary is absconding.
