Record-Breaking ₹353 Crore Cash Seized in Odisha Distillery Group Raids - Historic Income Tax Operation

In a historic development, income tax raids on an Odisha-based distillery group spanning three states have resulted in the highest-ever cash seizure in the country's income tax raid history. The total amount of cash seized during the five-day operation is ₹353 crore, according to officials familiar with the matter.

As of Sunday evening, officials from three branches of the State Bank of India (SBI) in Bolangir, Titlagarh, and Sambalpur successfully counted all the seized cash. The complex operation involved over three dozen counting machines and 80 officials. Notably, ₹48.5 crore was counted in Sambalpur and Titlagarh branches, while the Bolangir Main Branch counted an impressive ₹305 crore, utilizing 25 counting machines and a dedicated team of 50 employees working tirelessly until midnight.

Bhagat Behera, the regional manager of SBI Bolangir, remarked on the extraordinary effort, stating, "The amount of cash the staff have counted in the last 3 days is much more than what they would have done in a year." The currency, consisting of denominations ₹100, ₹200, and ₹500, arrived at the SBI Main Branch in Bolangir from the liquor company's office in Sudapada locality two days prior to the counting.

Despite challenges such as machine breakdowns and mildew deposits causing notes to stick, the counting process was diligently carried out. An official noted that there were no duplicate or ₹2,000 currency notes in the seized funds.

Simultaneously, income tax officials extended their raids to country liquor breweries linked to individuals close to the family members of Baldeo Sahu & Group of Companies, which owns and operates a distillery plant in Odisha. Interrogations of Bunty Sahu and Rajesh Sahu are underway to determine the reasons behind storing such a substantial amount of cash in Bolangir's Sudapada area.

Notably, a polythene packet containing ₹5 lakh with the name 'Inspector Tiwari' has raised concerns about potential involvement of state excise officials. IT officials plan to interrogate officials from the excise department to further probe this aspect.

In addition, a specialized 20-member IT analysis team from Hyderabad has joined the investigation to examine computer hard disks and electronic items recovered during the raids.

The distillery group, Baldeo Sahu & Group of Companies, linked to Congress Rajya Sabha MP Baldeo Sahu, faces increased scrutiny. The company, involved in the production of extra neutral alcohol, has several other businesses, including fly ash brick manufacturing, IMFL bottling units, and the sale and marketing of different IMFL brands.

Political reactions to the cash seizure have intensified, with the BJP staging protests in Jharkhand, demanding central probe agency intervention. BJP leaders accused the Congress of corruption and hinted at possible misuse of the funds for horse trading and resort politics post-election results. Jharkhand Congress leaders dismissed these allegations as 'petty politics,' urging patience until official statements from the income tax department are released.