Koda discharged; says he is 'innocent'

RANCHI: Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda was today discharged from a city hospital and claimed he was "innocent" and was not involved in the Rs 2,000 crore hawala scam even as Income Tax officials prepared to question him in connection with the case.

"I am innocent. I don't have any connections with anybody," Koda told reporters after he was discharged from Abdur Razzak Weavers Memorial Hospital.

IT department's Additional Director (Investigation), Ajit Srivastav had yesterday said Koda will be questioned by IT officials as soon as he gets discharged from the hospital.

The Medical Superintendent of the hospital, P D Sinha, said Koda was medically fit to go home.

"That is upto him (Koda) and the IT...he has been discharged as he is medically fit," Sinha told reporters when asked whether Koda is fit to be questioned.

IT sources said officials from the department will question Koda at his residence.

The sources said the Enforcement Directorate has been communicated about the IT department's move to question Koda and that they would be closely following the questioning.

Koda got himself admitted to the hospital on November 3 complaining of stomach ache.

Sources in the ED, however, refused to say whether Koda will be arrested but acknowledged the IT department's communication.