Chief I-T officer probing Koda gets transfer order

PATNA: Even as income-tax investigating officials were piecing together evidences which could lead to the unravelling of the involvement of more politicians in the Madhu Koda money laundering scam, the Centre has transferred the director of investigation, income-tax, (Bihar and Jharkhand) Ujjwal Choudhary.

The IT sleuths had recently launched nation-wide raids at nearly 70 residential and company premises of close associates of Madhu Koda and hawala traders who have a role in the scam.

The raids had led to discovery of vital documents and papers especially from the premises of Ashok Chinkara, Manoj Punamia, Ajay Bafna (all hawala traders) and M L Paul, P A of Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren.

“IT has found a diary in course of the raid from the premises of Delhi-based hawala based trader Ashok Chinkara who got bank accounts opened for at least five politicians of Jharkhand in foreign banks. Some of them are even ministers in the Shibu Soren government.

The sudden transfer of Ujjwal Choudhary could be possibly to derail the investigation. The scam is no more limited to Madhu Koda and his close associates. Several other names are actually part of the scam if proper investigation is conducted. But the Centre clearly wants to shield and protect some of politicians“ the former BJP legislator from Jharkhand Saryu Rai told ET.

The transfer of Choudhary will obviously raise several questions considering the fact that he was actively involved in the investigation of the Rs 2,000 Madhu Koda money laundering scam. The Ranchi high court which is monitoring the case may well step in to stay the transfer of Choudhary who will now swap position with Ajay Kumar, commissioner of Income tax (central ) in Patna. The matter is expected to come up before the concerned bench on Tuesday.