Odisha Income Tax Raids: Mumbai Link Of Liquor Traders Surfaces

Bhubaneswar: After the marathon raids by Income Tax department against Odisha-based distillery group owned by a Congress MP’s family led to huge cash haul, Mumbai links of the liquor traders have now reportedly come to light.

As per reports, the Income Tax officials have come across links between the liquor traders with a Mumbai-based company. In course of the entire operation, this link has surfaced.

According to sources, the Odisha-based group was procuring liquor compositions from ABD Company based in Mumbai for use in its plants. Bottling of the liquor composition was being done in the units located in western Odisha.

Suspecting irregularities in the financial transactions between the distillery firm in Sambalpur and the Mumbai company, the I-T officials visited Odisha and carried out the rigorous searches at multiple locations in the state.

Discrepancies in financial matters were reportedly noticed during the week-long raids. There were mismatches between the huge cash and various documents seized during the operation.

The Income Tax sleuths are now conducting a thorough investigation after the record seizure of more than Rs 351 crore cash from different locations of the company in Odisha.

It may be noted here that I-T officials also conducted raid at a liquor manufacturing unit in Dhenkanal district in the aftermath of the huge cash seizure from the distillery group owned by the MP’s family.

They carried out the raid at Shakti Maltier and Lemonade Pvt Ltd at Machhia village under the jurisdiction of Tumusinga police station since Friday. The firm is reportedly owned by a businessman namely Bikram Kishore Sahu.

The company, which has been manufacturing liquor and beverages since 2012, is authorised for blending, bottling, distribution and selling.

The company owner reportedly runs as many as six liquor shops in Dhenkanal. Reports said that Sahu used to buy spirits required for his business from Boudh Distillery.