By IANS,
Ranchi : Facing flak for ruling out a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the Madhu Koda money laundering scam, the Jharkhand government Thursday said it was ready for a probe by the central agency if the high court wanted it.
“The state government is ready for a CBI probe in the Madhu Koda case if Jharkhand High Court wants. We are dedicated to fight against corruption. We want that the Koda case should be taken to logical conclusion,” Deputy Chief Minister Raghubar Das told IANS.
In an affidavit to Jharkhand High Court Jan 28, the government said: “Keeping in view that the investigation which has been done by the vigilance bureau is satisfactory and that substantial progress has been made, it would be proper that the investigation continued by the vigilance bureau and the state government sees no reason and does not feel the need to hand over the investigation to CBI”.
The state government’s stand had invited criticism from various quarters. Das’ own Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is a key constituent of the Shibu Soren government, was also facing embarrassment over the development, with opposition parties demanding that the party clears its stand on the issue.
“We want a proper investigation,” Das said, claiming that the Income Tax (IT) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), which were investigating the case, were “not cooperating the state vigilance bureau”.
Durga Oraon had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in 2008 seeking a CBI probe against former chief minister Koda and five of his erstwhile cabinet colleagues – Enos Ekka, Harinarayan Rai, Kamlesh Singh, Bandhu Tirkey and Bhanu Pratap Sahi – alleging that the six were amassing assets beyond their known sources of income.
The state vigilance bureau also has cases of owning disproportionate assets against Koda and the five former ministers
Koda, who is at the centre of a Rs.2,500-crore money laundering scam, is in jail since Nov 30 after his arrest by the state vigilance bureau. Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate officials Oct 31 raided 69 places in eight Indian cities, including houses owned by Koda.
Kamlesh Singh, Ekka and Rai are also in jail.
Tirkey, who is an independent legislator, is also supporting the Soren government.