This is the cash-and-carry moment when taxmen seize banknotes worth billions from a senior politician under investigation in India.

Astonishing video footage of the raids in properties linked to suspect Dhiraj Prasad Sahu released by revenue officials shows one massive cabinet after another stacked with cash.

On the floor, more banknotes have been crammed into huge laundry bags waiting to be registered and bagged.

Local media reported that officials confiscated cash worth INR 3.5 billion (GBP 33.3 million) in the raids on properties in Odisha and Jharkhand on 6th December.

There was so much money that even bank staff using electronic banknote counting machines took five days to count it.

A second video shows tax officials and bank staff counting the seized cash sitting in piles around their office.

Officers also confiscated around three kilogrammes (6.6 lbs) of gold in the raids.

Staff from three branches of the State Bank of India (SBI) were recruited to take part in the count.

Bhagat Behera, an SBI Regional Manager said on 10th December: “We received 176 bags, and 140 of them have been counted. The rest will be counted today.

“Officials from three banks are involved in the counting process, and 50 of our officials are involved.

“About 40 currency counting machines were brought here. Twenty-five are in use, and 15 are kept as backup.”

Income tax officials reportedly also seized financial records, computers and phones during the raids.

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Suspect Sahu is a member of the Indian parliament’s upper house, the Rajya Sabha, and is a member of the National Congress party.

Tax investigators believe he could have secretly stashed away a fortune in backhanders and cash transactions.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Countrymen should look at these piles of currency notes and then hear the addresses of its leaders on honesty.

“Every penny looted from people will have to be returned. This is Modi’s guarantee.”

Jairam Ramesh, a Member of Parliament representing Karnataka state and from the same party as Sahu, said: “The Indian National Congress is in no way connected with the businesses of Dheeraj Sahu, MP.

“Only he can explain, and should explain, how huge amounts of cash have been reportedly unearthed by the income-tax authorities from his properties.”