Koda says he will report to ED only after Jharkhand polls

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, who has failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the money laundering case against him, today said he would be available for questioning only after the Assembly polls.

"The summons by the ED were delivered at my Ranchi residence only on November 18, a day before the appearance when I was busy campaigning (for assembly polls) in Chaibasa," Koda said here when asked by reporters why he failed to appear before the agency on November 19.

Koda said he would be available only after the conclusion of Jharkhand state Assembly polls on December 18. The former Jharkhand Chief Minister has put up six candidates, including his wife Gita on behalf of Jharkhand Navanirman Morcha for the polls.

"Moreover, the ED wanted certain documents like passport, which I don't have as they must be with either the income tax authorities or vigilance department (both the agencies had raided Koda's residence). Unless I get them how can I show them," he said.

He refused to comment on his 'aides' Sanjay Choudhary and Binod Sinha, who are facing arrest warrants following the raid by Income Tax authorities on about 70 premises, including Koda's residences, and unearthed documents that allegedly pointed to hawala transactions and illegal investment to the tune of over Rs 2,000 crore.