BJP asks why arrest warrant not issued against Koda

RANCHI: The BJP on Tuesday asked why a warrant of arrest was not issued against former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda in the money-laundering scam though he failed to honour the Enforcement Directorate summons for appearance.

"Despite Koda ignoring the Enforcement Directorate's summons, nothing is happening against him. Why not an arrest warrant is being issued as he failed to honour the summons," BJP secretary and Rajya Sabha member, Prabhat Jha, said.

"Koda should be arrested so that the names written in the diary found during searches by the Income Tax department are revealed," he told a press conference here.

The ED had issued separate summons on November 13, 15 and 19 asking Koda to appear before it. He responded with a letter to the ED saying that he would be available for questioning only after the conclusion of the Assembly elections.

The summons were issued in connection with the ED booking a money-laundering case against Koda and some of his former cabinet colleagues and aides.

Thereafter, the Income Tax department on October 31 unearthed Rs 2,000 crore hawala transactions and illegal investments during its countrywide searches in about 70 premises, including the residences of Koda.

Koda is at present campaigning for some independent candidates, including his wife, for the assembly elections beginning tomorrow.