IT Raids: Clarification Sought From MP Dheeraj Sahu, Says Jharkhand Cong In-Charge; Reiterates Party’s ‘Private Matter’ Stance

Jharkhand Congress in-charge Avinash Pandey said it was a "private matter" of Dheeraj Sahu and the party has nothing to do with it.

Written by: India.com News Desk Edited by: Gazi Abbas Shahid

Published: December 10, 2023, 5:24 PM IST

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https://www.india.com/news/it-raids-clarification-sought-from-mp-dheeraj-sahu-says-jharkhand-cong-in-charge-reiterates-partys-private-matter-stance-6575567/ Copy

(L) Cash seized by the Income Tax department after raids against a Odisha-based distillery group and linked entities.

Ranchi: Jharkhand Congress in-charge Avinash Pandey Sunday said the party has sought a clarification from its Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Prasad Sahu and asked him to issue a public statement to explain the recovery of massive amounts of cash recovered during Income Tax department raids at a premises linked to him.

Reiterating the Congress stance on the issue, Pandey said it was a “private matter” of Sahu and the party has nothing to do with it. However, the MP has been asked to issue a response to clarify his stance.

“Since he is Congress MP, he should make an official statement about how such a big amount of money came to him,” Pandey said while speaking to media persons at the Birsa Munda airport in Jharkhand capital Ranchi.

He also said, “The party has a clear-cut stand that it is a private matter of Dheeraj Sahu, which has nothing to do with the Congress party.

Piles of cash recovered from premises linked to Sahu

A huge pile of cash has been recovered so far in the searches conducted by the Income Tax department against Odisha-based Boudh Distillery Private Limited and entities linked to it. Premises linked to Sahu were also covered as part of the searches, according to officials.

The seizure amount is expected to reach Rs 290 crore, making it the “highest-ever” cash haul by any agency in a single operation, official sources said on Saturday.

Pandey said that the Income-Tax department has so far not made any official statement regarding the raid and recovery but the way allegations are being made linking the party is unfortunate.

“The family which has business establishment for more than 100 years here and it is the joint business of the family. Dheeraj Sahu is just a part of the business. But, Sahu should clarify how such big amount came to him,” Pandey said.

He, however, said that an official statement should also come from the Income Tax department about the quantity of cash and how it came.

Pandey was in Ranchi to welcome retired state administrative official Dr Sanjay Singh and retired Kargil warrior Hridaynand Yadav, who joined the Congress party at party headquarters.

Speaking at Congress headquarters, Pandey alleged that a conspiracy is being carried out to defame the opposition parties in the country.

“Since the day a majority alliance government came to power in Jharkhand, BJP has been hatching a conspiracy to destabilise it. This is not only in Jharkhand but the conspiracy is being done against all non-BJP governments elected through democratic process in the country under ‘Operation Lotus’. BJP is doing it openly without caring about any constitutional values,” he said.

Taking a dig at Pandey’s statement, senior BJP leader and Ranchi MLA CP Singh said, “Congress wants to get rid of Sahu so that its bosses could be protected. Is Sahu Congress MP or Independent? If he is an Independent candidate, then he can say that party has nothing to do.”

(With inputs from agencies)