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ShareNew Delhi: The probe against former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda is set to cross the country's borders. Followinggovernment nod, the enforcement directorate (ED) is in the process of seeking help from countries where the accused has made investments.
Probe officials said four letters rogatory had been prepared and will be sent to Indonesia, Dubai, Bangkok and Liberia. "We have sufficient evidence of investments made by the accused in foreign countries, in contravention of Indian laws. We will now seek the help of governments of these countries," a senior finance ministry official said.
A letter rogatory is a formal request from a court in one country to appropriate judicial authorities in another country, requesting testimony, documentary or any other evidence in connection with a registered case. The letters rogatory are to be sent after final whetting this week.
Investigators have indisputable evidence of illegal investments in Thailand, Indonesia, Dubai, Singapore, and Liberia. The money was reportedly routed through the hawala channel.
The probe even identified a hawala dealer, Abdul Bhai, in Dubai, who was coordinating the money transfers. He is reported to have received millions of dollars from Koda's aides. Mumbai-based Balaji Bullion and Retailers was the front company used to transfer these funds. Key Koda aide Sanjay Choudhary was one of its directors.
Koda invested $17 lakh to purchase mines in Liberia. He reportedly owns a hotel in Thailand. ED officials have found that Koda's aide, Binod Sinha, invested in properties worth Rs200 crore. Sinha and Choudhary reportedly own 16 companies, two -- M/s Cam Pech Manufacturing LLC and M/s Blue Techno -- in Dubai.
