Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu broke his silence on Friday, claiming that his family manages the business and that the money recovered is not his personal but rather belongs to the companies that were raided. This came after ten days of records showing that ₹ 350 crore in cash was taken from locations connected to him. He further emphasized that there is no connection whatsoever between the funds and the Congress or any other political party.
On December 6 and continuing through Friday, Income Tax searches were conducted against company owned by Mr. Sahu’s family, Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd, and related entities. Searches conducted in Odisha and Jharkhand produced cash worth ₹ 353.5 crore, the largest seizure ever made by an Indian investigative agency.
The BJP has used the lengthy search, the recovery of records, and the videos showing cash-filled almirahs to attack the Congress and charge it with corruption. Even Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made fun of the party by making a reference to the well-liked television show “Money Heist.”
Mr Sahu said to ANI, “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.”
“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,” he said.
“Some of the firms belong to my relatives and no money has been recovered from the premises of Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd, where some of the liquor is made. 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.
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