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The additional director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Manoj Sashidhar arrived in Bhubaneswar on Saturday and is likely to hold discussions with the officials of the regional office about the progress of investigations into some corruption and other cases pending in Odisha.
His visit triggered speculations as it comes close on the heels of a massive I-T crackdown in the State. His official visit to the regional office of the CBI assumes much importance after the seizure of a whopping Rs 350 crore cash from liquor traders. Income Tax officials conducted raids for six days on distillation centres of liquor maker Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd at Bolangir, Titilagarh and Sambalpur.
Sources said the CBI official may also discuss preparations and strategies to deal with the pending cases.
Following the massive haul of cash from the liquor makers in Odisha, political parties have been demanding a probe by the CBI or the ED into the alleged illegal cash stash by Boudh Distillery which is owned by a Congress MP of Jharkhand, and links of other liquor makers in Odisha.
Also Read: IT raids again on Boudh distillery, important documents seized
The leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had repeatedly trained their guns at the Congress. They also accused the ruling Biju Janata Dal(BJD) of bending excise laws to favour liquor makers in the last 23 years. It was also alleged that the money was stashed at distillation centres to be distributed to voters in western Odisha during the upcoming general elections.
Against this backdrop, the CBI additional director may discuss the massive cash seizure, though the agency has not indicated it officially.
