Income Tax Department has conducted country-wide searches on properties owned by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda. The searches began early morning on nearly 60 properties located in Jharkhand, Bihar, Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi. The raid follows Enforcement Directorate registering a case against him for money laundering and diversion of state funds. The case against him and three of his ministerial colleagues related to charges of making huge illegal investments abroad including purchase of mines as far as in Liberia. Koda was chief minister between February 2006 and August 2008.His cabinet colleagues involved in the case are Kamlesh Singh, Bhanu Pratap Shahi and Bhandu Tirkey. <br/><br/>According to the Directorate, Koda is allegedly purchased mines in Liberia worth 8.5 crore rupees besides making other 'benami' purchases in the name of his close confidant Binod Sinha, once a tractor mechanic. The property in the name of Sinha allegedly runs into several hundred crores of rupees. 38-year-old Koda is the first former chief minister and high-profile politician to have been booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.