By News Desk 
New Delhi | June 2, 2025: The Income Tax Department, known for its stringent monitoring of financial transactions across the country, has made headlines with what is officially the largest cash seizure in Indian tax history. The department keeps a close watch on discrepancies in income declarations and routinely cracks down on tax evasion. But this particular case, involving a distillery group in Odisha, has set a new precedent.
₹352 Crore in Cash Seized Over 10 Days
In December last year, the Income Tax Department launched an intensive raid across several premises of a distillery conglomerate in Odisha. The operation, which spanned 10 continuous days, led to the seizure of a staggering ₹351.8 crore in unaccounted cash — the highest ever recovered by a single agency in a single enforcement action in India.
Officials deployed specialized machines to scan for hidden compartments or buried assets, including ground-penetrating radar systems mounted on wheels. To handle the mountain of seized cash, over three dozen high-speed currency counting machines were brought in, and manpower was sourced from multiple banks to assist in tallying the cash haul.
Team Honored for Record-Breaking Operation
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently recognized the team behind the record-setting operation during a ceremony commemorating 165 years of the Income Tax Department. The department’s Principal Director of Investigation (Bhubaneswar), S.K. Jha, and Additional Director Gurpreet Singh, both members of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), received the CBDT Excellence Certificate for leading the raid.
Gurpreet Singh, a 2010-batch IRS officer, played a crucial role in executing the operation based on what was described as “actionable intelligence” received by the department.
Beyond the Raid: Larger Efforts in Tax Recovery
Following the success of the Odisha raid, the Income Tax Department is ramping up efforts in pending tax recovery cases. According to official sources, officers have been directed to closely monitor 5,000 high-value cases, which collectively involve a potential recovery of over ₹4.3 lakh crore in outstanding tax dues.
This highlights a broader strategy by the department to clamp down on tax evasion at all levels — from wealthy individuals to large corporate entities — using a combination of advanced surveillance tools, data analytics, and ground-level intelligence.
India’s Tax Machinery Gets More Aggressive
The Odisha raid has become a defining moment in the department’s enforcement history, symbolizing its increasing reliance on technology and coordination with financial institutions. While India’s tax system continues to evolve, such operations reflect a growing emphasis on accountability, transparency, and compliance in the financial sector.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information and should not be considered financial or legal advice. For personalized guidance, consult a certified tax advisor or financial expert.