Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Union minister of state for finance Bhagwat Karad has raised questions regarding the origin of the approximately Rs 200 crore seized from firms allegedly related to Congress MP Dhiraj Prasad Sahu.The money was seized after the income-tax department carried out a series of raids on 170 locations in Odisha and Jharkhand. The raids started on December 6 on Odisha-based Boudh Distillery Private Limited and others.The seizure amount is expected to reach Rs 290 crore, sources said.Karad, speaking to the media here, questioned the origin and rightful ownership of the money seized so far. He said the cash was discovered stashed in 157 bags, adding that the quantum was so huge that the counting machines malfunctioned.The discovery has sparked a debate on political financing and the transparency of elected representatives assets. Sahu has been elected to the Rajya Sabha since 2010. Maharashtra minister for housing Atul Save, who accompanied Karad during the press conference, said Sahu had declared wealth of Rs 34 crore in his last election affidavit.This disparity has fuelled speculation and demands for clarity on the source of the additional funds. The ongoing investigation aims to shed light on the matter, with both movable and immovable assets under close examination, he said.The ministers statements have intensified scrutiny of Sahus financial dealings, particularly given his four-decade association with the liquor manufacturing industry, he said.Karad said, For decades, Congress MP Sahu has remained close to the Gandhi family. Based on the action carried out by the income-tax department now, the Congress should expel him from the party. This is yet another glaring example of the Congress making money for decades.Sources in the party said the BJP has strategically chosen to shine light on instances of corruption, targeting the Congress-led INDIA front from various angles and platforms.Similar news conferences will be held in different parts of the country to highlight the corruption carried out by the Congress and its alliance partners, said a senior officer-bearer of the BJP.We also published the following articles recentlyChhattisgarh home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, state Congress chief Baij trailingChhattisgarh Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu is trailing in Durg Rural seat by 1,365 votes against BJPs Lalit Chandrakar. State Congress chief Deepak Baij is behind by 518 votes against BJPs Vinayak Goyal in Chitrakot seat. Chhattisgarh assembly speaker Charan Das Mahant is also trailing in Sakti seat by 897 votes against BJPs Khilawan Sahu. State minister Guru Rudra Kumar, an influential SC community leader, is trailing in Nawagarh seat by 660 votes against BJPs former minister Dayaldas Baghel. In Kawardha seat, minister Mohammad Akbar is trailing by 1,534 votes against BJPs Vijay Sharma. Chhattisgarh minister Shivkumar Dahariya is also trailing in Arang seat by 1,700 votes against BJPs Guru Khushwant Saheb. In Korba seat, minister Jai Singh Agrawal is trailing by 837 votes against BJPs Lakhanlal Dewangan.Largest haul of black money: Income Tax department raid on Odisha distillery has turned up Rs 290 crore so far, counting still on after 3 daysIncome Tax raids on an Odisha-based distillery group and its associated entities are set to uncover a staggering Rs 290 crore in "unaccounted" cash, making it the largest-ever cash seizure by any agency. The raid, which began on December 6, has already seized about Rs 230 crore from the companys premises in Bolangir district, with the rest recovered from locations in Titlagarh, Sambalpur, and Ranchi. The tax raids were initiated based on intelligence regarding undisclosed sales and cash remittances by liquor distributors, sellers, and business groups.

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