MADHU KODA
At last, Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda was kept behind the jail bars. On Monday, he and his cabinet colleague Kamlesh Kumar Singh was arrested by the state police’s vigilance wing in connection with a case of disproportionate assets and money laundering. Now he has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody.
BIOGRAPHY
Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Madhu Koda was born on 6th January, 1971 in Jharkhand. He gained his school education from ‘zilla school’, Chaibasa and graduation from ‘Utkal University’ in Orissa through a correspondence course. He started his political career as an active member of ‘All Jharkhand Students Union’. In 2000 Assembly elections, he was elected from Jaganathpur constituency as a BJP candidate, and he became the Panchayati Raj Minister under the government headed by Chief Minister Babulal Marandi. In 2005 Assembly Elections, he was again elected from Jaganathpur constituency as an independent candidate. However, he supported BJP government led by Arjun Munda and took the charge of Mines and Geology minister. Madhu Koda and three other independent legislators withdrew support to the Munda government in September 2006 and bring the Munda government in trouble. After that, with the help of United Progressive Alliance, Madhu Koda became the chief minister of Jharkhand. He resigned from his chief minister post on 23th August 2008 due to the withdrawal of support by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. On 10th October, 2009, he was charged with laundering money worth over Rs. 4000 crores by Enforcement Directorate(ED) during his administration as Chief minister in Jharkhand. ED investigated his money laundering operation, which is spread from Singapore to Thailand and from Dubai to Liberia. Koda has been charged with having business interests of diverse kinds including in cement, steel, auto, power, agriculture and tourism. On 30th November, 2009, Madhu Koda was arrested by Enforcement Directorate, and he has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody.