The Income Tax raids entered their sixth day at the premises of Baldev Sahu Infra Pvt Ltd in Sudpada, Balangir, Odisha, a company allegedly linked to Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu. The ongoing scrutiny has heightened political tensions, with the income tax department focusing on various locations in Odisha and Jharkhand.
The currency counting of the seized cash from the properties connected to Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu has been completed. A substantial amount, reportedly exceeding Rs 300 crore, was recovered during the raids. SBI Regional Manager, Bhagat Behera, announced that the seized cash, stored in 176 bags, would be deposited at the same bank in Balangir SBI main branch following official procedures.
While SBI’s main branch assures regular public services, income tax officials continued to survey properties linked to Dheeraj Sahu on Monday. The documentation process is still ongoing, and searches are being conducted in Bolangir, Odisha, as well as in Jharkhand.
During the raids, significant stacks of currency notes were seized, adding fuel to the political discourse. SBI Regional Manager Behera mentioned that out of the 176 bags received, 140 have been accounted for, with the counting of the remaining bags scheduled for Monday.
The income tax sleuths also conducted raids at the premises of Boudh Distilleries Private Limited on Sunday, as part of the ongoing crackdown. The central agency has reportedly recovered over Rs 300 crore in cash from various locations in Odisha and Jharkhand linked to Boudh Distilleries Private Limited (BDPL).
The recovery has become a focal point for political discussions, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking a dig at the Congress on Friday, emphasizing the need to return every penny looted from the people. Union Minister Amit Shah criticized the Congress and members of the INDIA bloc for their silence on the raids.
The Congress has distanced itself from the recovered cash, asserting that only Dheeraj Sahu can explain the presence of significant amounts of cash in his business properties. With the BJP likely to intensify its stance, the political ramifications of the income tax raids are anticipated to escalate.
