Aditya Kaul. New Delhi
Rasik Koda, father of Madhu Koda, wanted his son to become a head constable. But Koda had other, far ambitious, plans. Had he not been caught, Koda would probably have been one of the richest politicians in the political history of the country. His assets and bank accounts are being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), income tax and Jharkhand state authorities.
Born to a poor farming family at Patahatu village in west Singhbhum, Koda completed his primary education from a village school. He began his political career as an activist with the All Jharkhand Students Union. In the early 1990s, he became associated with the RSS. Before joining the BJP in 1994, Koda was a labourer. In 2000, he contested the assembly polls on a BJP ticket and became a minister in the Jharkhand government. Between 2000 and 2005, he served as minister in the Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda governments. In the Babulal Marandi's government, Koda was the panchayati raj minister. He retained the post when Arjun Munda took over in 2003. In 2005, Koda left the BJP when he was denied a ticket and fought the state election as an independent from Jagannathpur. He won.
In 2005, he became the mines and co-operatives minister in the BJP government which was supported by the independents. He held the charge from February 2005 to September 2006. In September 2006, Koda along with other independents brought down the Munda government and became the chief minister with support from the Congress, RJD and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. This was the first instance of an independent member of a legislative assembly becoming chief minister, a charge which he held till August 2008.
Several reports of corruption surfaced during his tenure as chief minister. In 2009, he again fought the Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate from Singhbhum and won. In January 2009, the vigilance department, Ranchi, launched a probe against him and his cabinet colleagues. The vigilance department referred the matter to the Enforcement Directorate as there was concrete evidence of hawala dealings.
After preliminary enquiry, the ED first booked Koda's colleagues Enos Ekka and Hari Narayan Rai in September. On October 9, they booked Koda and three other former Jharkhand ministers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act which gives ED the power to attach properties and arrest the accused. A few days ago, the income tax department also stepped in and carried out countrywide raids to uncover what is now turning out to be an empire created from plundered public money.
His assets include hotels, mines and properties worth crores spread across the world. He has made investments in India, Thailand, Liberia, Dubai, Indonesia and Singapore. Koda amassed staggering wealth with the help of key aides Binod Sinha and Sanjay Choudhary. Investigations have shown how well Koda and his accomplices planned their plunder of the state exchequer. They used Mumbai-based Balaji Bullion and Retailers as their front company for transfer of money abroad. Before becoming a minister, Koda and his wife's declared assets totaled to around Rs 14.15 lakh, including cash, saving certificates, investments, jewellery, agricultural land and parental house.
Band of thieves

Madhu Koda
Former chief minister, Jharkhand
Owns movable and immovable assets worth thousands of crores. Accused of illegal investments in India and abroad. Purchased mines worth $17 lakh in Liberia. Opened different companies in Dubai and sent the money through hawala. Through his key aide Binod Sinha, Koda purchased M/s Shivram Sponge Iron for Rs 17.5 crore and a rolling mill worth Rs 13 crore.

Hari Narayan Rai
Former town development and tourism minister
At the time of filing nomination papers in 2005, his income was not taxable. Accused of amassing property worth Rs30.18 crore as minister. Owns a 4-storey bunglow in Ranchi worth Rs1.40 crore, a house in Deoghar worth Rs20 crore (18 rooms, imported marbles and fully air-conditioned), another house in Deoghar worth Rs 7.50 crore and half a dozen cars.

Enos Ekka
Former rural development minister
Floated a construction company soon after taking charge as minister in an attempt to legalise his illegal income. Purchased land around Ranchi, including 30 acres valued at Rs55 crore. Built a bunglow costing Rs2.5 crore on posh Airport Road in Ranchi. Wife Menon Ekka purchased land in the names of tribals by submitting forged certificates

Kamlesh Singh
Former water resources and excise minister
Owns properties in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Ranchi under different names. Owns two SUVs. Purchased land worth Rs 50 crore in the name of his brother, wife Madhu Singh and other relatives.

Bhanu Pratap Shahi
Former health and labour minister

Owns land and properties, including a 30-acre plot in Namkum district of Ranchi, running into several crores.

Bandhu Tirkey
Former human resource development, sports and culture minister

Owns flats in Vasant Vihar, and had recently paid Rs8 crore to a construction company M/s Nagarjuna Construction Company. Owns properties worth crores in Jharkhand.


Binod Sinha, businessman and Sanjay Choudhary, both close aides of Koda

Sinha was a milk vendor. Later, he graduated to selling electrical equipment. Choudhary used to sell cement to contractors in Jharkhand. Today Sinha owns properties worth Rs 200 crore in India and abroad. Sinha and Choudhary own 16 companies out of which two are in Dubai. Both have made major investments in mines, steel and power projects in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Dubai and Singapore.