In a significant operation spanning Odisha and Jharkhand, the Income Tax Department has reportedly seized unaccounted cash valued at approximately Rs 300 crore from premises associated with Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu. This substantial cash seizure marks one of the largest hauls of black money in a single operation by any agency.
The raids, which commenced on Wednesday, primarily focused on locations linked to Boudh Distillery Private Limited in Odisha, where a major portion of the unaccounted cash was found. The ongoing counting of the seized notes, facilitated by around 200 bags of varying sizes, is anticipated to conclude by Saturday. Despite ongoing efforts, several bags remain unopened for counting.
To expedite the counting process, the Income Tax Department has mobilized approximately 40 large and small machines and deployed additional department and bank personnel. Reinforcements, including more vehicles for transportation, have been arranged to facilitate the transfer of the seized cash to government banks.
In the latest updates, Income Tax teams reportedly confiscated three more bags from Dheeraj Sahu's premises in Ranchi. Additionally, nearly 19 bags of cash were seized from the residence of an individual named Bunty Sahu, overseeing liquor factory maintenance in the areas targeted in Odisha.
The cash seized from Bunty Sahu's residence is expected to surpass Rs 20 crore. A substantial amount exceeding Rs 225 crore, mainly comprising Rs 500 denomination notes, was tallied on Friday and is being progressively deposited in government bank branches across Odisha.
In tandem with the cash seizures, the Income Tax Department has initiated the process of recording statements from various company officials and individuals associated with the raided premises. As of now, Dheeraj Sahu has not issued any statements regarding the ongoing raids.
This notable cash seizure brings to mind previous significant raids, including the 2019 GST Intelligence operation on a Kanpur businessman and the 2018 Income Tax department's discovery of Rs 163 crore during searches on a Tamil Nadu-based road construction firm.