{"id":62808,"date":"2026-03-30T18:02:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T12:32:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/punjabenews.com\/English\/?p=62808"},"modified":"2026-03-30T18:02:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T12:32:24","slug":"turnover-evasion-in-hospitality-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/punjabenews.com\/English\/punjab\/turnover-evasion-in-hospitality-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"\u20b9200 crore turnover evasion unearthed in Punjab\u2019s hospitality sector, crackdown intensifies with data-driven probe: Harpal Singh Cheema"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Turnover evasion in hospitality sector may touch \u20b9500 crore as Bhagwant Mann Govt expands investigation: Harpal Singh Cheema<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Punjab E News (30 March 2026):<\/span> Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday revealed a massive \u20b9200 crore turnover evasion racket in Punjab\u2019s hospitality sector, exposing deep-rooted and systemic under-reporting across dhabas, eateries, restaurants, and fast-food outlets, as the Bhagwant Mann Government launched an aggressive, technology-driven crackdown to protect public revenue. With 882 establishments already under the scanner and \u20b92.02 crore recovered so far, Harpal Singh Cheema made it clear that the investigation is rapidly expanding and the total evasion could surge to nearly \u20b9500 crore as more data is analysed.<\/p>\n<p>Flagging how major urban centres like Mohali, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana have emerged as key hubs of suppression, he underscored that sectors driven by high cash and hybrid payments are at the centre of the fraud. Backed by advanced data analytics, inputs from TIU and SIPU, and the success of the \u2018Bill Liyao, Inam Pao\u2019 scheme, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government has intensified enforcement, with Harpal Singh Cheema issuing a firm warning that strict action will follow against every violator while ensuring full use of technology to safeguard the State\u2019s revenue.<\/p>\n<p>Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, \u201cThrough a comprehensive, state-wide, data-driven enforcement exercise covering hotels, dhabas, eateries, bakeries, sweet shops, restaurants, catering services, and similar establishments, we have identified a total of 882 establishments pertaining to FY 2025\u201326.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Finance Minister further added, \u201cWith further analysis and the inclusion of data pertaining to the financial years 2023\u201324 and 2024\u201325, the total magnitude of evasion is likely to reach approximately \u20b9500 crore.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Detailing the findings of the ongoing verification, Harpal Singh Cheema stated, \u201cIn the preliminary inquiry conducted till date, 239 cases have been examined, resulting in the detection of turnover suppression of approximately \u20b950 crore.\u201d He added, \u201cThis evasion involves a tax of \u20b92.54 crore at a 5% rate, and our Department has so far ensured the recovery of \u20b92.02 crore, with further recovery proceedings still ongoing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Underlining the scale of discrepancies across taxpayers, Minster Harpal Singh Cheema said, \u201cWe discovered turnover suppression above \u20b92 crore in 3 taxpayers, above \u20b91 crore in 6 taxpayers, above \u20b950 lakh in 18 taxpayers, above \u20b925 lakh in 26 taxpayers, and above \u20b95 lakh in 91 taxpayers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Highlighting sector-specific trends, he noted, \u201cOur further analysis indicates systemic patterns of under-reporting in high-cash and hybrid-payment segments.\u201d He added, \u201cDhabas account for approximately \u20b910 crore of the suppression, followed by small eateries, coffee, and chai bars at around \u20b98 crore, and pizza and fast-food outlets exceeding \u20b96 crore.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Providing a district-wise breakdown, the Minister said, \u201cMohali has reported the highest turnover suppression of \u20b98.16 crore, followed by Jalandhar with \u20b96.72 crore and Ludhiana with \u20b95.48 crore, making them the major contributors to the detected evasion.\u201d He added that Patiala and Amritsar have shown comparatively lower discrepancies, with \u20b93.83 crore and \u20b90.99 crore respectively.<\/p>\n<p>Explaining the methodology behind the crackdown, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, \u201cDuring detailed scrutiny of business data by the State Investigation and Preventive Unit, it was observed that a significant number of such establishments were using online billing applications.\u201d He added, \u201cI give full credit to the Tax Intelligence Unit, the State Investigation and Preventive Unit (SIPU), alongside the overwhelming success of our \u2018Bill Liyao, Inam Pao\u2019 scheme, for making this large-scale detection possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He further elaborated, \u201cBased on risk parameters, data analytics, and comparative analysis with GST returns, we identified instances of possible suppression of turnover. We accordingly directed the concerned online platforms to furnish detailed transactional data, which field formations are now using for on-ground verification and reconciliation with statutory returns.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emphasising balanced enforcement, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, \u201cIt is pertinent to note that no discrepancy has been observed in 52 establishments, reflecting balanced enforcement and verification based on data-driven selection.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Outlining the next steps, he said, \u201cThe remaining cases are under active verification and detailed scrutiny, and it is expected that the entire exercise of verification and recovery shall be completed within one month.\u201d He added, \u201cTo further strengthen the investigation, the Department is in the process of obtaining UPI transaction data and other digital payment trails, which will enable a deeper reconciliation of actual receipts with reported turnover, thereby enhancing detection accuracy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Issuing a clear warning to violators, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, \u201cThe Bhagwant Mann Government is committed to leveraging technology, data analytics, and coordinated field enforcement to ensure tax compliance and safeguard State revenue.\u201d He emphasised, \u201cStrict action shall be taken in all cases of tax evasion, while compliant taxpayers shall continue to be facilitated.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Turnover evasion in hospitality sector may touch \u20b9500 crore as Bhagwant Mann Govt expands investigation: Harpal Singh Cheema Punjab E News (30 March 2026): Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday revealed a massive \u20b9200 crore turnover evasion racket in Punjab\u2019s hospitality sector, exposing deep-rooted and systemic under-reporting across [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":62809,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest","category-punjab"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.2 - 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