Former Chief Minister Madhu Koda beaten up in jail

Ranchi: Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda was today beaten up in jail, allegedly by prison officials.

Mr Koda, who was admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, alleged that the jail staff had attacked him when he went to "check the quality of food".

"When I went to check the quality of food, I was attacked by jail staff," Mr Koda told reporters.

However, Deputy Commissioner K K Soan said the MP was beaten up by the inmates of the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi. "The inmates of upper division ward insisted that he take meal with others and when he had gone there, a couple of prisoners beat him up," Mr Soan said, adding Mr Koda suffered injuries in his hand.

His wife Gita Koda, MLA, alleged it was a conspiracy against her husband and demanded an inquiry. JMM and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM-Prajatantrik) also demanded a high-level enquiry into the incident.

Advertisement

"Koda is not an ordinary person, but a former chief minister of the state and the assault on him is tantamount to an attack on the democratic set up," JMM leader Sudhir Mahto said.

Mr Koda was arrested in November 2009 on charges of corruption and money-laundering, which he allegedly carried out while he was chief minister from September 2006 to August 2008.

Advertisement

His former cabinet colleagues Enos Ekka, Harinarayan Rai, Kamlesh Singh and Bhanu Pratap Sahi are also lodged with him in the same ward of the jail.

Mr Koda had floated his own party, the Jharkhand Navnirman Morcha (JNM), the same year just after the Enforcement Directorate filed cases of money-laundering against him.

Advertisement

(With PTI Inputs)