Punjab govt unearths illegal tobacco products worth Rs 1.5 crore

CHANDIGARH: (Mar 27) The Punjab government unearthed illegal tobacco products worth about Rs 1.5 crore during a statewide drive against tax evasion, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Friday.

He said the tax department conducted simultaneous raids at eight locations — five registered firms and three unregistered — after receiving input about rising tax evasion following a hike in tobacco taxes.

Teams from State Investigation and Preventive Units in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Jalandhar conducted the inspections and found large quantities of products without proper invoices.