NEW DELHI: New currency counting machines have been pressed into service after the units that were being used broke down, hampering counting of cash seized at various locations, allegedly linked to Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj Sahuin the income tax department‘s search operations in Odisha and Jharkhand. The total cash seizure, I-T department sources said, could reach the Rs 300 crore mark once counting is completed in the next two to three days.
“This could be the highest ever cash seizure by the department after the Rs 160 crore cash which was seized during search operations in Chennai in 2018,” said a source, adding that the final number was yet to be arrived at and searchers are being conducted at various other locations where several rooms and almirahs are still to be examined. Sahu is a three-term Congress Rajya Sabha MP and his family dominates the liquor business in the eastern region of the country.
Currency machines have been flown in from Hyderabad and other cities to step up counting, an I-T department source said, adding gold and silver jewellery weighing nearly 17 kgs have also been seized . “Some of the machines had broken down as the rubber bands in the cash stash acted as obstacle,” a source said
The counting of currency has also slowed due to “logistical security reasons” as some of the locations are in remote areas. “We have to be careful about the security of our personnel and equipment to ensure that the operations continue smoothly,” said the source.
The operations and seizure of such a large quantity of cash has also attracted the attention of Prime Minister Modi who lashed out at the Congress party saying it has exposed the hypocrisy of the opposition party over the issue of corruption.
“This could be the highest ever cash seizure by the department after the Rs 160 crore cash which was seized during search operations in Chennai in 2018,” said a source, adding that the final number was yet to be arrived at and searchers are being conducted at various other locations where several rooms and almirahs are still to be examined. Sahu is a three-term Congress Rajya Sabha MP and his family dominates the liquor business in the eastern region of the country.
Currency machines have been flown in from Hyderabad and other cities to step up counting, an I-T department source said, adding gold and silver jewellery weighing nearly 17 kgs have also been seized . “Some of the machines had broken down as the rubber bands in the cash stash acted as obstacle,” a source said
The counting of currency has also slowed due to “logistical security reasons” as some of the locations are in remote areas. “We have to be careful about the security of our personnel and equipment to ensure that the operations continue smoothly,” said the source.
The operations and seizure of such a large quantity of cash has also attracted the attention of Prime Minister Modi who lashed out at the Congress party saying it has exposed the hypocrisy of the opposition party over the issue of corruption.