Income Tax department in Odisha, where they seized Rs 290 crore in cash from a liquor company and its employees. The cash was hidden in various locations and was suspected to be used for illegal activities. The department has arrested several people and seized some documents and electronic devices. The Odisha government has praised the raid and said it will boost the state’s economy. The raid is seen as a major blow to the liquor mafia in Odisha, which is one of the largest consumers of illicit liquor in India.

The Income Tax department has made one of the biggest cash recoveries in the country by seizing Rs 290 crore in cash from various premises linked to a liquor company and its employees in Odisha. The raids, which began on December 6, 2023, are still ongoing and have resulted in the arrest of several people, including the owner of Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd and its director.

The cash was found hidden in bags, suitcases, and other containers at different locations in Boudh district, where the liquor company is located. The department has deployed about 40 large and small machines to count the currency notes and brought in more staff to finish the process. The seized cash includes Rs 200 crore in new currency notes and Rs 90 crore in old currency notes.

The department suspects that the cash was used for illegal activities such as money laundering, tax evasion, and bribe taking. The raids were conducted after receiving information about the involvement of some employees of Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd in tax evasion cases. The company had allegedly under-reported its turnover and income from sales of liquor to avoid paying taxes.

The department has also seized some documents, computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices from the premises. The investigation is underway to find out if there are any other links between the liquor company and other entities involved in tax evasion.

The Odisha government has praised the department for conducting a successful raid and recovering such a huge amount of black money. The Chief Minister of Odisha has said that this will boost the state’s economy and help reduce poverty.He has also assured that strict action will be taken against those who are found guilty of tax evasion or any other crime.

The raid is being seen as a major blow to the liquor mafia in Odisha, which is one of the largest consumers of illicit liquor in India. According to official data, Odisha consumes about 1.5 lakh litres of liquor per day, which is equivalent to about 40 million litres per year⁵. The state government has been trying to curb this menace by imposing higher taxes on liquor sales, banning new distilleries, cracking down on illegal bootleggers, and launching awareness campaigns against alcoholism.

However, despite these measures, many people still resort to consuming illicit liquor or paying bribes to evade taxes. This not only affects their health but also deprives the government of revenue that can be used for public welfare schemes. Therefore, it is hoped that this raid will send a strong message that no one can escape from law enforcement agencies by hiding their ill-gotten wealth.