“Seized Cash Not Linked to Congress”, Says Dhiraj Prasad Sahu on IT Raids

New Delhi: Opening his mouth after 10 days on the record seizure of cash worth over Rs 350 crore from premises linked to him, Congress MP Dhiraj Prasad Sahu said that the money unearthed is not directly his as his family handles the business. According to him, the seized cash belongs to the companies which were raided.

He also clarified that the seized cash had no links with Congress or any other political party.

The Income Tax department raided Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd, and associated entities owned by Sahu’s family on December 6. The raids concluded on Friday. During these searches in Odisha and Jharkhand, total cash worth Rs 353.5 crore was seized. It is the largest single cash seizure ever made by any investigative agency in India.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Mr Sahu said he has been in active politics for nearly 35 years and this is the first time such an allegation has been levelled at him. “I am hurt, and I can say with conviction that the money that has been recovered is my firm’s. We have been in the liquor business for over 100 years. I am involved in politics and did not pay much attention to the business. That was looked after by my family, and I would just ask how things were from time to time,” he said in Hindi.

The Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand said, “The money that has been recovered is related to our firms involved in the liquor business. Our business is transparent. The money is from the sale of alcohol and it is in cash because sales in the liquor business happen in cash. The cash was from sales collections and has nothing to do with the Congress or any other party. It is the money of my companies.”

” The money is not mine, it is my family’s as well as of related companies. My family members will give clarifications, if needed, to the Income Tax department. We will cooperate with the authorities,” Mr Sahu added.