Shillong, December 11: In a groundbreaking operation, the Income Tax Department uncovered unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 351 crore during raids on properties associated with Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu in Odisha and Jharkhand. This sum marks the “highest-ever” black money seizure by any agency in a single operation.
As per India Today, commencing on December 6, the raids have progressed significantly, with officials completing the counting of 140 out of 176 bags of seized cash by Sunday. Intensive efforts were made to conclude the counting process by the end of Sunday, considering the impending normal banking hours on Monday and the need to return the counting machines to the banks.
Bhagat Behera, Regional Manager of the State Bank of India, reported that 176 bags of cash were received, and 140 of them have been meticulously counted. The counting process involves the collaboration of fifty officials from three banks, with the deployment of 40 counting machines.
Recognizing the substantial amount of cash still awaiting counting, authorities mobilized additional cash-counting machines and manpower on Sunday to expedite the process. Engineers were also present at the site to address any technical issues that might arise during the counting.
Visuals from Sunday showcased officials diligently counting bundles of cash recovered from properties linked to Congress MP Dheeraj Sahu, primarily from the premises associated with Boudh Distillery Private Limited in Odisha. The ongoing investigation highlights a significant development in the crackdown on unaccounted wealth, emphasizing the scale and impact of the operation.