Punjab seizes illegal tobacco goods worth Rs 1.5 crore

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The North News

Chandigarh, March 27

The Punjab government has seized illegal tobacco products worth about Rs 1.5 crore during a statewide crackdown on tax evasion, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Friday.

Cheema said the state tax department carried out simultaneous raids at eight locations, including five registered firms and three unregistered businesses, after receiving inputs about a rise in tax evasion following an increase in tobacco taxes.

Inspection teams from the State Investigation and Preventive Units in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Jalandhar conducted the searches and found large quantities of tobacco products without proper invoices.

The seized stock included around 132,000 packs of cigarettes, 18,472 packs of bidis, 302 packs of zarda, imported cigarettes, hookah material and 13,000 lighters.

Cheema said the department has assessed a tax liability of more than Rs 50 lakh, along with penalties.

He added that about Rs 12 lakh has already been recovered, while efforts are continuing to recover the remaining amount.

The minister said the Bhagwant Mann government would take strict action against tax evasion and urged traders to comply with tax rules and maintain proper documentation.