Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu breaks silence over Rs 350 crore cash seizure, denies personal ownership
PTC Web Desk: Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Dhiraj Sahu has finally addressed the recent controversy surrounding the record-breaking Rs 350 crore cash seizure from premises associated with him, stating that the recovered money does not directly belong to him, but is affiliated with the raided companies managed by his family. He claimed that the seized funds have no association with the Congress party or any other political entity.
The Income Tax raids targeted Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd and related entities, all owned by Dhiraj Sahu's family. Spanning across Odisha and Jharkhand, the searches concluded on Friday, resulting in the staggering seizure of Rs 353.5 crore, marking a monumental milestone as the largest single cash seizure by any investigative agency in India.
The BJP has seized upon this record recovery, using it as a tool to criticise the Congress for alleged corruption. Prime Minister Narendra Modi even referenced the popular TV series 'Money Heist' to take a jibe at the party.
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Speaking to news agency ANI, Dhiraj Sahu, a Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand, expressed his dismay, asserting that the recovered money belonged to his firm and was unrelated to his political endeavours. He emphasised his family's long-standing involvement in the liquor business, spanning over a century, and his lack of direct engagement due to his political commitments.
Sahu elaborated on his family's business operations, highlighting that the cash seized stemmed from legitimate sales transactions in the liquor industry, often conducted in cash. He stressed that the funds were solely from the business and not linked to any political affiliations.
Furthermore, Sahu clarified that while some of the companies were related to his relatives, no money was confiscated from Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd, a site involved in liquor production. He reiterated that the seized money belonged collectively to his family and associated companies, indicating willingness to provide necessary clarifications to the Income Tax authorities and cooperate with their investigation.
- With inputs from agencies
