Seized money has 'nothing to do with Congress', says Dhiraj Sahu on I-T raids

Earlier in the day, the last two I-T teams left the premises of the distillery, wrapping up the raid. A final appraisal report of the entire operation has been sent to the CBDT.

Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu on Friday gave his first statement on the seizure of over Rs 350 crore of cash from a Odisha-based distillery firm owned by his family.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Sahu said, "What is happening today makes me sad. I can admit that the money that has been recovered belongs to my firm...The cash that has been recovered is related to my liquor firms, it is the proceedings from the sale of liquor."

"This money has nothing to do with Congress or any other political party as is being said...The money is not all mine, it belongs to my family and other related firms," the MP clarified, adding that he would give an "account" for everything.

The Congress has distanced itself from the MP, claiming the party has nothing to do with his business.

"The Indian National Congress is in no way connected with the businesses of Dheeraj Sahu, MP. Only he can explain and should explain, how huge amounts of cash have been reportedly unearthed by the income-tax authorities from his properties," AICC general secretary Communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X last week.

Earlier in the day, the last two I-T teams left the premises of the distillery, wrapping up the raid. A final appraisal report of the entire operation has also been sent as per procedure to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in Delhi by the field investigation unit.

BJP MPs led by party chief J P Nadda on Monday held a protest near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Complex, alleging the cash seized during the raids proved that the Congress was "neck-deep" in corruption.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg... Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will have to answer whose money it is and how it was looted," Nadda had said.

(With inputs from PTI)