Ranchi, Feb 20 (IANS) The central government's move to transfer income tax (IT) director Ujjwal Chaudhary, involved in the investigation of the Madhu Koda scam, has been criticised by both the ruling and opposition parties in Jharkhand.

Chaudhary was Friday transferred as the Income Tax Commissioner in Patna. He was director (IT-investigation) here since June last year.

The Bharatiya Jananta Party (BJP), which is part of the Shibu Soren government, Saturday expressed its unhappiness over the transfer.

'Chaudhary has been transferred to shield big politicians. The move was made to dilute the investigation,' Saryu Rai, senior BJP leader, told reporters.

Echoing his view, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator Simon Marandi said: 'The central government should reconsider the transfer of Chaudhary in the interest of the investigation.'

Former central minister and senior Congress leader Rameshwar Oraon said: 'This will affect the investigation. The transfer appears a move to hush up the case.'

Income tax raids were conducted this week in connection with the Rs.2,500-crore money laundering scam involving former chief minister Madhu Koda. The raids began Tuesday morning at 70 places in 13 cities across India, including Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Chaibasa, Pune, Mumbai and Bangalore, and ended Thursday.

The IT department in October last year had conducted raids at 69 places of eight Indian cities, including Koda's houses.

A petition was filed by lawyer Rajiv Kumar in the Jharkhand High Court Friday, seeking to stay the transfer in the interest of the investigation.