4 min readBhubaneswarDec 16, 2023 01:40 PM IST
First published on: Dec 11, 2023 at 04:20 AM IST
THE TOTAL amount of cash seized during the Income-Tax Department’s searches at multiple properties in Odisha linked to Baldeo Sahu and Group of Companies Ltd, a distillery firm run by family members of Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand Dhiraj Sahu, has exceeded Rs 350 crore, said officials.
This is the highest-ever cash seizure by an agency in a single operation, said sources in the I-T Department. The counting of the seized currency notes took five days and concluded on Sunday.
The seized cash was taken in bags for counting to three SBI branches — in Balangir, Sambalpur and Titlagarh. The maximum 176 bags filled with cash were taken to SBI’s Balangir branch, where additional manpower had to be deployed for counting the notes.
“Counting of seized notes by I-T Department has been completed after five days. Total 25 machines and 50 bank officials worked extra hours even on the weekend to complete the process. Total amount is estimated at Rs 305 crore,” said a senior SBI officer, giving details of the counting at Balangir branch.
In addition, the amount counted at the Sambalpur branch was around Rs 37.50 crore while at the Titlagarh branch it was estimated to be Rs 11 crore, said SBI sources.
The seized money taken to the three branches since December 6 will be deposited in accounts suggested by the I-T department on Monday, they said.
Security personnel at the residence of Congress MP Deeraj Sahu as the Income Tax officials raid in connection with the disproportionate asset case, in Ranchi on Friday. (PTI Photo)
To get into the source of the seized “unaccounted cash”, the I-T officials are examining two employees of the liquor manufacturing unit. Based on their statements, the agency will take further course of action, said sources.
Senior I-T officials from Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar are camping in Balangir to monitor the probe.
In Patna, Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the Opposition parties, particularly its INDIA bloc, for remaining silent on the cash seizure.
“Since Independence, never has such a large amount of cash been seized from an MP’s house,” he told ANI news agency. “Hundreds of crores of rupees have been recovered but the whole INDI alliance is silent on this. We understand the silence of Congress as corruption in their nature but parties like TMC, JD (U), RJD, DMK and SP are sitting silent,” he said.
Shah said it is quite clear now why a campaign was being run against Prime Minister Narendra Modi that agencies are being misused. “It was run because there was fear in their mind that all the secrets of their corruption will be revealed,” he said.
“Opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi and INDI alliance leaders should answer questions on the seizure of such huge cash. BJP will take it to the grassroots and create awareness among masses. Our fight has been against corruption since 2014. PM Modi has taken several steps to curb corruption,” said Shah.
The Odisha unit of the BJP has decided to stage statewide dharna against the BJD government over the seizure of “benami” amount from liquor traders.
Sahu’s company has been in country liquor manufacturing and selling business in Odisha since 1994-95 and has continued operations by renewing it every year.
The seized money taken to the three branches since December 6 will be deposited in accounts suggested by the I-T department on Monday. (ANI/File) 
Security personnel at the residence of Congress MP Deeraj Sahu as the Income Tax officials raid in connection with the disproportionate asset case, in Ranchi on Friday. (PTI Photo)
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