‘It Is Not BJP Money’: Sitharaman On Recovery In Piyush Jain Case, Hits Out At Akhilesh Yadav

Nirmala Sitharaman remarked that Akhilesh Yadav is “shaken” by the raids as stated that the nearly Rs 200 crore cash recovered from perfume businessman Piyush Jain is not BJP money.

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday hit back at Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav over his remarks on the tax evasion case involving perfume maker Piyush Jain along with the fresh raids.

Addressing a press conference, Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the nearly Rs 200 crore cash recovered from the perfume businessman is not BJP money.

She also defended the timing of the tax raids saying they were based on actionable intelligence.

In the press conference following the GST Council meeting, she was asked about the opposition charge claiming that the Rs 197.49 crore cash recovered from Piyush 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.

“It is not BJP money,” she said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

Furthermore, she stated that Akhilesh Yadav “should not raise doubts about the professionalism of the organisation”.

“The height of (seized) cash is proof that law enforcement agencies are working honestly..” she added, asserting that law enforcing agencies act on actionable intelligence in conducting raids.

Nirmala Sitharaman remarked that Akhilesh Yadav is “shaken” by the raids.

“How do you know whose money is it? Are you his partner? Because only partners know whose money is kept,” she jibed.

Dismissing the accusation of the agency raids being politically motivated, the senior BJP leader asked if the raiding parties have come empty handed.

“Should we wait for post-poll 'muhurta' or catch the thief today itself?”: Nirmala Sitharaman added.

Akhilesh Yadav’s Allegations On Tax Raids

Earlier this morning, a team from the Income Tax department conducted raids at premises belonging to Samajwadi Party MLC Pushapraj Jain (Pammi Jain) and another businessman in Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj.

Reacting to the development, SP chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav alleged: “BJP had talked about demonetisation and GST, but despite that, so much money was found. They went to raid and find Pushpraj Jain but raided their own Piyush Jain. Now, these people are raiding Pushpraj Jain to rectify their mistake.”

“BJP is trying to pollute SP’s name. Those who spread the smell of hatred will not like the fragrance of the perfume. Earlier they have mistakenly conducted raids at the residence of their own man and now to cover that they are conducting searches on residences of SP leaders,” he said, addressing a press conference in Kannauj, as reported by ANI.

The SP leader claimed that whenever BJP feels it is losing the election, the agencies start conducting raids.

He appealed to the Election Commission that these raids be conducted after the elections if it comes in the code of conduct.

The political salvos come as Uttar Pradesh is among the five states going to polls early next year and the ruling and opposition parties are now attacking each other over the recent tax raids.

(With Inputs From Agencies)