Finally breaking his silence over the huge cash recovery in I-T raids, Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu said his family handled the businesses and the money recovered was not directly his, but belonged to the companies which were raided.
The MP also said the money was not linked in any way to the Congress or any other political party.
The income tax (I-T) searches against a firm, Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd, and associated entities owned by Sahu’s family began on December 6 and ended after none days. Carried out in Odisha and Jharkhand, the searches yielded cash worth ₹ 353.5 crore, marking the largest single seizure ever made by any investigative agency in India.
The record recovery, long search and videos of almirahs full of cash have been used by the BJP to slam the Congress and accuse it of corruption. Even PM Modi took a dig at the party using a reference to the popular TV series ‘Money Heist’.
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.
The Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand said his was a big, joint family and six brothers, including him, were involved in the business. Their children also looked after various aspects of the companies.
“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,” Sahu added.
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