Chandigarh/Mohali, March 30: Punjab Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced on Monday that a massive tax evasion racket totaling ₹200 crore has been identified within the state’s hospitality industry. The discrepancy was found following a state-wide data-driven enforcement exercise targeting dhabas, restaurants, and fast-food outlets across major urban centers.
During a press conference, the Minister stated that 882 establishments are currently under investigation in cities including Mohali, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana. So far, the department has recovered ₹2.02 crore in unpaid taxes. Cheema affirmed that as the investigation expands to include data from the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years, the total magnitude of evasion is expected to reach approximately ₹500 crore.
A preliminary inquiry into 239 specific cases has already revealed a suppressed turnover of about ₹50 crore. According to the findings, dhabas led the discrepancies with ₹10 crore in hidden earnings, while coffee and chai bars accounted for ₹8 crore and fast-food outlets exceeded ₹6 crore.
“The department is now obtaining UPI transaction data and digital payment trails to reconcile actual receipts with reported turnover,” Cheema maintained. He asserted that many businesses had been using online billing applications specifically to mask their true earnings from authorities.
Geographically, Mohali reported the highest level of suppressed turnover at ₹8.16 crore. Jalandhar and Ludhiana followed with discrepancies of ₹6.72 crore and ₹5.48 crore, respectively. Patiala and Amritsar recorded lower figures, with the latter showing a discrepancy of ₹0.99 crore.
