In a startling revelation, tax raids targeting Jharkhand Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu have brought to light a staggering cash hoard exceeding Rs 100 crore in Odisha. The Income Tax Department’s ongoing investigation into Sahu’s properties in both Odisha and Jharkhand has escalated into a major scandal, with the BJP vehemently urging an immediate Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe.
The confiscated cash, discovered hidden in an almirah, has prompted an expanded search operation, encompassing Sahu’s residence, office, and country liquor distillery in Sundargarh city. Additional locations include the corporate office of Boudh Distillery Private Limited (BDPL) in Bhubaneswar, the homes of company officials, and the factory and office in Boudh Ramchikata, along with the Ranisati Rice Mill.
The ongoing counting process, involving over 30 officers and bank staff, utilizing eight counting machines, has unveiled the extent of the alleged financial irregularities. Plans to acquire three additional machines underscore the enormity of the cash stash, with more than 150 packets of currency already transported to the State Bank of India’s head branch in Bolangir.
Income Tax Director General Sanjay Bahadur, overseeing the raids in Bhubaneswar, has acknowledged that authorities are actively exploring potential political ties to the seized cash, adding a layer of complexity to the unfolding scandal.
In the political arena, the BJP, led by Rajya Sabha MP Deepak Prakash and Amar Kumar Bauri, has sounded the alarm, demanding an urgent ED investigation. Prakash, highlighting the gravity of the situation, insinuates a pattern of financial misconduct spanning decades, implicating several Congress MPs. This revelation intensifies the political landscape, casting a shadow over the Congress MP and inviting scrutiny into allegations of financial improprieties.
As the investigation progresses, the scandal surrounding the Congress MP’s alleged financial improprieties deepens, amplifying the BJP’s call for a comprehensive ED probe to uncover the truth behind decades-long financial mismanagement.”
Prasanta Patnaik