In a sweeping operation by the income tax department, a staggering Rs 353.5 crore in cash has been discovered during raids on premises associated with Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj Prasad Sahu in Ranchi and other locations.
Income Tax Raids Uncover Huge Amount Of Cash Stash in Congress MP’s Premises
The investigation, involving 50 bank officials and 40 counting machines over five days, revealed the unprecedented cash stash in an Odisha-based distillery owned by a Congress MP’s family. This marks the largest single seizure ever made by any investigative agency in India, breaking previous records.
The counting of the cash in Odisha is nearly complete, with Balangir district witnessing the most substantial recovery at approximately ₹305 crore. Sambalpur and Titlagarh followed with Rs 37.5 crore and Rs 11 crore respectively. The Income Tax department is set to deposit all seized cash at the main branch of State Bank of India (SBI) in Balangir, ensuring normal bank operations for the public during this process.
As the investigation deepens, the income tax department expanded its scope to include Baldev Sahu Infra Pvt Ltd, allegedly linked to Mr. Sahu’s family. Suspecting unaccounted income from the sale of country liquor, the raids on Boudh Distilleries Private Limited continued, shedding light on a complex financial web. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensified its attack on the Congress and other opposition parties in response to the cash seizure. Union Home Minister Amit Shah dismissed accusations of misusing investigative agencies as mere “propaganda” and asserted that the opposition fears being held accountable for alleged corruption.
Meanwhile, the Congress distanced itself from Mr. Sahu, prompting Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to question the absence of similar searches against BJP leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the issue, assuring the public that the “looted money” would be returned. Sharing a Hindi newspaper report depicting the vast cash recovered, PM Modi emphasized the need for accountability, stating that every penny looted from the public would be returned.
