At least Rs 290 crore in cash has been recovered so far by the Income tax department during the ongoing raids against Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd and others, making it the “highest-ever” haul by any agency in a single operation. However, it is being said that the amount is likely to rise further as the officials are yet to count more cash. In addition to this, several other locations are also on the radar of the intelligence department.
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The tax department raided the offices linked to Boudh Distillery Private Limited, which is based in Odisha’s Boudh district, began in the state, Jharkhand and West Bengal on Wednesday and went on till Friday.
Several rooms and lockers across the three locations are yet to be checked as the I-T department intensified its searches on Saturday. The cash was also reportedly found stuffed inside cupboards and other furniture.
All You Need To Know About The Ongoing Raids:
The searches are likely to continue on Saturday as well as and the amount of money seized is also likely to increase as counting is still underway.
The company under I-T radar is linked to Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand, Dheeraj Sahu.
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The Congress leader’s son, Ritesh Sahu, is the managing director while his elder brother Uday Shanker Prasad is the chairman of the company that manufactures extra-neutral alcohol, a primary raw material used for making alcoholic beverages.
According to reports, the Boudh Distillery Private Limited is also accused of tax evasion.
Tax sleuths are now recording the statements of various company officials and other persons involved, PTI reported.
The seizures also took a political turn on Friday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an attack on the Opposition over corruption.
As the BJP accused the Congress of corruption, the grand old party alleged a conspiracy by the former. Taking to X, the Prime Minister said, “The countrymen should look at the pile of these notes and then listen to the honest ‘speeches’ of their leaders.”
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Meanwhile, the Congress party defended its leader and alleged that the BJP has conspired against its leader Dheeraj Sahu.
