Harpal Cheema: Punjab Govt. Uncovers Rs 1,549 Crore Bogus Transactions, Blocks Fake ITR Claims Worth Rs 108.79:

Harpal Singh Cheema: Punjab Govt. Uncovers Rs 1,549 Crore Bogus Transactions, Blocks Fake ITR Claims Worth Rs 108.79

On Monday, in a big crackdown on tax evasion, the Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, Punjab Finance, Planning, and Excise, uncovered fake billing transactions worth Rs. 1,549 crore and blocked bogus Input Tax Credit (ITC) claims worth Rs. 108.79 crore during the financial year 2025-26. At a press conference held at Punjab Bhawan, Cheema praised the Taxation Department for taking strict and immediate action. He said that the AAP-led state government has made it clear that it will not tolerate tax evaders or the people who support them.

Major Decisions Taken

Ludhiana (Gold Transactions):

• The Punjab government has detected fake invoices worth Rs. 900 crore, and ITC claims worth Rs. 226 crore have been blocked.

Mohali, Kharar, Kotkapura (Coal Transactions):

• The Punjab government has detected fake billing worth Rs. 226 crore, and ITC claims worth Rs. 12 crore have been blocked.

Ludhiana and Mandi Gobindgarh (Statewide Operation):

• The Punjab government has uncovered fake transactions worth Rs. 423 crore and has blocked the ITC claim worth Rs. 75.79 crore during the verification of 195 GST-registered firms.

Gold Seizure: 

• A vehicle has been seized by the Punjab government carrying 2 Kg of gold without invoices. The investigation is going on.

Harpal Singh Cheema also uncovered a main individual was taken into custody in the case of claiming fake ITC of worth Rs. 29.50 crore, with inward supplies of Rs. 163 crore from more than 60 fake or cancelled firms.

Tech-Driven Crackdown

Cheema talked about using 15 data analysis tools developed with help from IIT Hyderabad. He said seven more tools will be added soon. He praised the success of the ‘Bill Liyao Inaam Pao’ scheme. Under this scheme, 4,880 people have won prizes worth Rs. 2.89 crore by uploading their bills using the ‘Mera Bill’ app.

Fines and Recoveries

These tools have helped find tax issues, leading to penalties of Rs. 9.07 crore and recoveries of Rs. 7.20 crore under GST rules.

Political Criticism

Cheema criticised past governments, saying: “Congress, BJP, and Akali Dal protected tax evaders. Now they’re worried as we take action against their close supporters. We’re bringing back money that belongs to honest taxpayers.” He also said the AAP government has done well in collecting GST, gathering Rs. 62,733 crore in just three years, almost as much as the Rs. 63,042 crore collected in five years under the Congress government.