Following a huge cash haul of approximately Rs 350 crore from western Odisha, the Income Tax department raided an alcohol manufacturing unit at Machhigan under Tumusinga police limits on Friday, which continued on Saturday.
As per reports, Shakti Maltare and Lemonade Pvt Ltd usually makes beer under several brands after blending the spirit bought from outside, particularly from Boudh Distillery Private Limited where I-T sleuths had raided recently.
However, the Managing Director of Shakti Maltare, Bikram Sahu denied any personal relationship with Boudh Distillery and MP Dhiraj Sahu.
Speaking to OTV, Sahu said, “Though we procure spirit from Boudh distillery, I personally do not know them. I have four clients who bring us spirit and we create liquor from it before selling them to my clients who then sell it in the market with their labels.”
“As far as the I-T raids are concerned, I do not know why they raided my plant. Only the I-T personnel can answer that,” Sahu added.
It is pertinent to mention here that Shakti Maltare has been preparing alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks since 2012. It has licence for blending, bottling, distribution and sales of alcohol.
The raid has been underway by two I-T teams. Though it is not clear if the raid is linked to tax evasion, sources added that the raid earlier carried out on the Boudh Distillery has a link with the raid in Dhenkanal.
It may be noted here that the I-T raids on multiple locations linked to country liquor factories of Baldeo Sahu and Sons and Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd had yielded cash worth Rs 320 crore in Odisha recently.