Income Tax Raids Uncover Massive Cash Hoard in Odisha: SBI to Handle Deposits

Following the completion of the currency counting process involving 176 bags seized during Income Tax raids on properties linked to Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu, the Income Tax Department is set to deposit all the confiscated cash at the Balangir SBI main branch in accordance with official procedures on Monday.

SBI Regional Manager, Bhagat Behera, assured that the SBI's main branch will continue to function smoothly for the public despite the ongoing investigations. Income Tax officials are still conducting surveys at properties associated with Dheeraj Sahu, with the documentation process yet to conclude.

During the raids, significant stacks of currency notes were discovered, and sources suggest that the recovered amount exceeds Rs 300 crore. Bhagat Behera revealed that out of the 176 bags received, 140 have been accounted for, and the counting of the remaining bags is scheduled for Monday. The counting process involves officials from three banks and 50 SBI officials, utilizing 40 currency counting machines.

The Income Tax sleuths, now in the fifth day of their crackdown, conducted raids at the premises of Boudh Distilleries Private Limited. Baldev Sahu Infra Pvt Ltd, a group company of Boudh Distilleries allegedly linked to Sahu, is under scrutiny. The ongoing raids have led to the recovery of more than Rs 300 crore cash from various locations in Odisha and Jharkhand.

The residences of Sahu were also searched, adding momentum to the BJP's criticism of the Congress on the issue of corruption. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah have both criticized the Congress for remaining silent on the matter.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, distancing the party from the cash recovery at Sahu's home, stated, "The Indian National Congress is in no way connected with the businesses of Dheeraj Sahu, MP. Only he can explain, and should explain, how huge amounts of cash have been reportedly unearthed by the income-tax authorities from his properties."

As the Congress is yet to take punitive action against its MP, the BJP is expected to intensify its stance on the issue. The Income Tax Department's actions have reignited the political discourse, with the BJP leveraging the situation to criticize the Congress on the grounds of corruption.

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