09 November,2009 07:49 AM IST | | Upala KBR
Koena Mitra claims she was just doing a favour being the face of Jharkhand
Koena Mitra, who had been promoting Jharkhand as an investment destination for Non-Resident Indians (NRI), has landed herself in a controversy.
It is now alleged that disgraced former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Kodau00a0- who has grabbed national headlines and faces arrest on charges of laundering Rs 2,500 croreu00a0- had paid the actress Rs 50 lakh to be the face of the state.
Token gesture
Koena claims that she did it as a favour. "I did it without charging any fee. As a token gesture however they gave me Rs 3 lakh followed by another Rs 11,000 besides a shawl, chocolates and flowers. I also got first-class treatment from them. But I haven't got any Rs 50 lakh from him."
Adds the actress, "They asked me to promote Jharkhand because I am from West Bengal and speak Bengali fluently. I spoke on Jharkhand as a goodwill gesture. I am not the face or brand ambassador of the state. They had invited me to speak through friends."
u00a0The Bong bombshell says, "Being the face of the government is not a small matter. Everything is done officially through paperwork and if any payment is made, it has to be through cheque. But I have neither."
She adds, "Madhu Koda introduced me to the media as a daughter of Bengal. But because of all that they shouldn't take for granted that I am the face of Jharkhand."
Earlier this year in January, Koena had stated, "I request investors to come to Jharkhand and get a feel of its potential. I am happy that I have been asked to promote the state as an investment destination. I have strong ties with the state, as I am a Bengali from Kolkata, which is barely 500 kilometres from Jharkhand."
However today the item girl chooses to wash her hands of the matter. "There were two conferences I attendedu00a0- one in Delhi and one around Bhubaneshwaru00a0- and both were in front of the media. They were not private functions. They wanted foreigners to come to Jharkand as it had lots of potential. It was image building for the state. I merely went and spoke a few words and that was it."
THE KODA ISSUE
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and his associates, facing charges of money laundering, were summoned by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning on alleged hawala transactions and investments. Koda and eight others have been accused of amassing property worth crores of rupees in UAE, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Liberia.
