Koda ignores ED notice

PATNA: Even as Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials maintained that the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Madhu Koda has been asked to turn up for interrogation at Ranchi on Thursday, the man facing the heat in connection with the multi-crore money laundering scam may actually be planning to skip the interrogation.

“I have not received any notice so far from ED requiring my presence at Ranchi. But if I get the notice, I will go for interrogation,“ declared Mr Koda at Chaibasa where he addressed a rally . He was soliciting support for his wife Geeta Koda and other candidates fielded by him in assembly elections.

It remains to be seen how ED will respond if he really fails to turn up for interrogation. “He wants to keep us on tenterhooks. It was on his request we agreed to shift the place of interrogation form New Delhi to Ranchi but if he wants to buy time, it will not be of any good to him. We will work on other options,” said sources in ED.

When approached, I-T’s investigation director Ujjwal Choudhary said he would not be able to comment on the development. “I-T has not summoned him for interrogation though it is true the I-T officials are usually present during interrogation,” he said.