The Income Tax Department's ongoing raids on premises associated with Congress' Jharkhand Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu have led to the recovery of approximately ₹200 crore from the Boudh Distillery Private Limited in Odisha. The counting of seized assets is still in progress, with sources indicating that substantial amounts have been uncovered. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the issue, vowing that all unlawfully acquired funds would be reclaimed.
In a statement posted on X along with a newspaper clipping about the raids, PM Modi emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, "The countrymen should look at the pile of these notes and then listen to the honest 'speeches' of their leaders…Whatever has been looted from the public, every penny will have to be returned, this is Modi's guarantee."
The raids conducted by the Income Tax Department expanded beyond Odisha, extending to Sahu's business premises in Jharkhand and West Bengal. Reportedly, some of these locations are situated in Naxal-affected areas, necessitating caution during the operation.
While the Congress's Jharkhand unit remained relatively subdued regarding the raids, Congress spokesperson Neeraj Sinha informed The Indian Express that Sahu's business is longstanding, unlike sudden wealth accumulation akin to certain entities. Sinha added that the Income Tax Department has not communicated any details to Dheeraj Sahu as per his knowledge.
The Income Tax Department has deployed over 30 officers for the counting of cash, utilizing eight machines to manage the substantial amount seized.
Meanwhile, the BJP seized the opportunity to criticize the Congress leadership, citing the recovery of substantial cash amounts during the raids.
"Bursting with disconcerting facts from the three-day IT raids across 10 locations in Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, more than ₹100 crore in cash was confiscated from the residence of a Congress MP in Jharkhand. The BJP accuses Congress leaders of filling their pockets with black money earned through corruption," stated Bhartiya Janata Party leader Gaurav Bhatia on Friday.
The ongoing developments in the Income Tax Department's raids have triggered political discourse, intensifying scrutiny on alleged financial improprieties within political circles.
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