Arrest warrants issued against Koda's aides (Lead)

The Income Tax (IT) department Wednesday issued arrest warrants against Vinod Sinha and Sanjay Chaudhary, close associates of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, who is faced with charges of laundering Rs.2,500 crore.

"We have issued arrest warrants against Vinod Sinha and Sanjay Chaudhary and asked the concerned police station to arrest them and produce them before us," said Ajit Srivastava, additional director of investigations in the IT department.

"Vinod Sinha's lawyer appeared before us, requesting that they (the lawyers) should be allowed to be present when Sinha appears before us," he added.

The IT department had Nov 2 asked Vinod Sinha, Sanjay Choudhary, Devendra Mukhiya, Basant Bhattacharya, Manoj Punamiya and Anil Bastawde to appear before it by 11 a.m on November 6.

None of them, however, turned up. Enforcement Directorate (ED) then issued an alert to all airports in the country to prevent any one of them from fleeing the country.

The IT department again asked them to appear before it by Nov 11. When Sinha and Chaudhary failed to appear, the IT department issued arrest warrants against them.

Devendra Mukitya and Basant Bhattacharya appeared before the IT department in Ranchi, and Manoj Punamitya appeared in Mumbai.

On Wednesday Rakesh Kumar, a friend of Vinod Sinha, appeared before the IT department in Ranchi.

"I have been produced here as witness under section 131 of the Income Tax Act. I am friend of Vinod Sinha since 1995," said Rakesh Kumar.

He, however, refused to speak about Vinod Sinha's business.

The ED has already arrested Vikas Sinha, the brother of Vinod Sinha, who according to sources, has admitted to sending Rs.40 crore abroad for Koda.

On Oct 9, the ED filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Koda and his associates.

Koda's interrogation also continued Wednesday.

Koda had allegedly purchased and distributed 600 motorcycles and 25 to 30 four-wheelers to distribute among his supporters during the Lok Sabha elections held in April-May this year.

Last updated on Nov 11^th, 2009 at 22:33 pm IST--IANS