IT dept seizes over Rs 200 cr in cash from premises linked to Congress MP

Income Tax officials have seized unaccounted cash to the tune of over Rs 200 crore during searches at multiple premises in Odisha and Jharkhand linked to Baldeo Sahu and Group of Companies Ltd, a country-liquor manufacturing and selling firm, sources said. According to I-T sources, the group is allegedly linked to Dhiraj Sahu, Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand, whose family members run the business. It’s a partnership firm of Boudh Distilleries Private Limited (BDPL) and a leading country-liquor manufacturing firm, sources said. The raids began on Wednesday at different places in Balangir, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, and Bhubaneswar in Odisha, besides some locations in Jharkhand. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken note of the seizure of such large amount in cash. Posting a newspaper clipping with photos of currency notes recovered during the raids, the Prime Minister tweeted: “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.”