Koda aide surrenders before IT

RANCHI: Devendra Mukhia, an alleged aide of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, today surrendered before the Income Tax department here which wants to probe his involvement in the alleged hawala and illegal investments case.

Mukhia is among the four persons, who had failed to meet the November 6 deadline set by the IT department to appear before it for questioning in connection with Rs 2000 crore hawala transactions and illegal investments case.

The scam surfaced after the department launched raids on 76 premises across the country on October 31, including on the residences of Koda.

Koda, who was the Mines minister during the Arjun Munda government from 2004, had retained the portfolio after taking over the reigns in September 2006.

Koda has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate to appear before it on November 13 and would be interrogated by IT officials from tomorrow, IT's Additional Director (Investigation), Ajit Srivastav, said yesterday.

Meanwhile, the department is contemplating to issue arrest warrants against the other three wanted by it - Binod Sinha, Sanjay Kumar Choudhary and Manoj Punamiya.