CHANDIGARH: Harpal Singh Cheema announced that the Punjab Taxation Department has launched a large-scale, coordinated enforcement drive to curb tobacco tax evasion, uncovering unaccounted goods worth approximately ₹1.5 crore. The कार्रवाई followed intelligence inputs after a recent hike in tobacco taxes, prompting teams from State Investigation and Preventive Units (SIPUs) in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, and Jalandhar to conduct simultaneous raids at eight locations, including both registered and unregistered business premises.
During the inspections, major detections were made in Ludhiana and Amritsar, where officials uncovered concealed storage sites and large quantities of goods being traded without valid invoices. The seized items included over 1.32 lakh packs of cigarettes, 18,000+ biris, zarda, imported cigarettes, hookah material, and thousands of lighters. Authorities found that several businesses were operating outside the legal framework, with significant stock hidden in shops and godowns.
Cheema stated that a tax liability exceeding ₹50 lakh has been identified, with ₹12 lakh already recovered and further recovery underway. Reiterating the Bhagwant Mann government’s zero-tolerance policy, he warned traders to comply strictly with tax laws, adding that such enforcement drives will continue to ensure transparency and protect state revenue.
