It's not BJP money: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Rs 200 crore seized from perfume maker in Kannauj

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the nearly Rs 200 crore cash recovered from perfume maker Peeyush Jain is not BJP money.

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the nearly Rs 200 crore cash recovered from perfume maker Peeyush Jain is not BJP money, as she defended the timing of the tax raids saying they were based on actionable intelligence.

Speaking to reporters after GST Council meeting, she said law enforcing agencies act on actionable intelligence in conducting raids.

"It is not BJP money," she said when asked about opposition charge that the Rs 197.49 crore cash recovered from perfume maker Peeyush Jain in UP's Kannauj was her party's money and the tax authorities had raided the person by "mistake" and are now raiding the other Jain they had originally wanted to target.

#WATCH | He (SP chief) should not raise doubts about the professionalism of the organization. The height of (seized) cash is proof that law enforcement agencies are working honestly... Should we wait for post-poll 'muhurta' or catch the thief today itself?: FM Nirmala Sitharaman pic.twitter.com/r3CyIcmw66 — ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2021

She said the former chief minister Akhliesh Yadav is "shaken" by the raids, as she sought to defend the action.

"How do you know whose money is it? Are you his partner? Because only partners know whose money is kept," she said.

Dismissing opposition charge that the raids were politically motivated, she asked if the raiding parties come empty handed. Also Read: Who is Bitcoin’s founder? Elon Musk believes THIS computer genius is behind cryptocurrency

Recovery of money shows there was actionable intelligence, she said, adding the raids happening on Friday too were based on such inputs. Also Read: 5.62 crore returns have been filed till now; 20 lakh ITRs filed today: Revenue Secretary