I-T's Forceful Crackdown in Odisha: Aiming for Record Rs 290 Crore Cash Seizure

The Income Tax department's crackdown in Odisha saw a record-breaking seizure of Rs 290 crore, potentially the highest-ever cash haul. Raids targeted Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd and linked entities, leading to ongoing cash counts and transportation. congress Dhiraj Prasad Sahu's premises were also included in the searches.

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In a significant crackdown by the Income Tax department in Odisha, a monumental seizure of approximately Rs 290 crore in unaccounted cash has transpired, potentially marking it as the largest haul in history. This operation primarily targeted Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd and its interconnected entities, resulting in an extensive counting process utilizing nearly 40 machines, both large and small.

Commencing on December 6, the process continues relentlessly, with a team comprised of department officials and additional bank staff meticulously tallying the currency notes. The scale of this operation necessitated the requisition of more vehicles for the transportation of the seized cash to government banks across Odisha.

Moreover, the raids extended beyond the distillery group, encompassing properties associated with Dhiraj Prasad Sahu, a Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand. These searches augmented the scope of the investigation, leading to the recording of statements from various company officials and other implicated individuals.

The staggering amount seized already surpasses Rs 250 crore, and the counting process is ongoing, expected to culminate by Saturday. The majority of the confiscated notes predominantly comprise Rs 500 denomination bills.

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This feat is touted to be the most substantial cash seizure by any agency against a singular conglomerate and its interconnected entities in the country's history. Such intensified actions by the Income Tax department have demonstrated a robust crackdown on the Odisha-based liquor distillery group.

Notably, the operation's magnitude expanded further when an additional 20 bagloads of cash were discovered at the residence of a countrymade liquor manufacturer in the Bolangir district.

The comprehensive nature of this operation, involving exhaustive counts, searches, and recording of statements, underscores the magnitude of this crackdown. The meticulous efforts of the department and the significant amounts uncovered signal a pivotal step in curbing unaccounted wealth circulation in the region.