Face2News/Chandigarh 

The Punjab Taxation Department conducted a special statewide enforcement campaign on January 28, through all wings of the State Intelligence and Preventive Units (SIPUs). This operation reaffirms the Department’s unwavering commitment to strict GST compliance and safeguarding government revenue.

Informing this Punjab Excise Minister Harpal Singh Cheema informed that 141 vehicles were detained for detailed verification across the state. A significant number were intercepted in Mandi Gobindgarh and Ludhiana—major hubs of the iron and steel trade. Preliminary checks indicate most transported iron and steel goods, suspected of tax evasion via without-invoice movements, misuse of GST provisions and irregular e-way bills.  

The Cabinet Minister said that this campaign builds on January 2026 enforcement drive targeting the high-risk Iron and Steel sector, based on credible intelligence. Inputs revealed large-scale evasion through invoice-less goods movement, bogus firms, fake billing and e-way bill manipulations. SIPUs were thus directed to intensify checks on iron scrap, finished iron and steel goods and other high-risk commodities for uniform enforcement. 

Excise Minister Harpal Singh Cheema informed that January’s sustained efforts detained 793 vehicles statewide: 538 carried iron scrap and finished iron/steel goods with the rest transporting other commodities. These actions yielded ₹14.84 crore in penalties across 667 cases. Another 187 cases remain under verification as of January 28 with further recoveries anticipated. 

The Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Department’s proactive, intelligence-led approach bolsters GST compliance, deters evasion and ensures a level playing field for honest taxpayers. It will continue targeted drives to protect revenue, foster voluntary compliance and uphold transparency in the GST regime.