*Punjab Tax Department Busts Major Fake Billing Racket; Arrests Ludhiana Based Firm Director: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*SIPU Unearths ₹15.56 Crore Fake Input Tax Credit Scam on ₹85.4 Crore Supply: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Advanced Data Analytics Using FASTag and E-way Bills Exposes Bogus Goods Transportation: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Fraudulent Debit Notes and Blank Transport Documents Seized in Extensive Crackdown: Harpal Singh Cheema*

Chandigarh, 8th May, 2026-Reaffirming the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government's zero-tolerance policy against economic offenses, Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday announced a major breakthrough by the State Intelligence and Preventive Unit (SIPU). Revealing the details of the crackdown, Finance Minister Cheema said, "Today, Taxation department has successfully dismantled a highly organized fake billing network, resulting in the arrest of Mr. Paramjeet Singh, Director and Authorised Signatory of M/s API Plastic Recyclers Private Limited, Ludhiana, for orchestrating a massive ₹15.56 crore GST fraud involving the wrongful availment of fake Input Tax Credit on bogus transactions worth ₹85.4 crore."

Detailing the investigation the Finance Minister said, "The accused firm was engaged in systematic and organized tax evasion. They availed fake Input Tax Credit on the basis of bogus invoices issued by non-existent and fraudulent firms across multiple states, entirely without the actual receipt of goods."

Revealing further, the Excise and Taxation Minister said, "Our intelligence teams further established that many supplier firms involved in the transactions had already been cancelled suo moto, suspended, or found non-functional by the concerned GST authorities. The total fraud detected so far stands at ₹15.56 crore, and I must emphasise that this figure is likely to increase further as our investigation is still strictly in progress."

Exposing the intricate web of deception, the Minister said, "I must commend our department's detailed analysis of e-way bills and FASTag toll data. This analysis conclusively established that vehicles shown in transport documents were found at locations completely inconsistent with the declared movement of goods, proving that no actual transportation had taken place. Our investigation uncovered 407 such highly suspicious vehicle movements involving fake ITC of more than ₹2.65 crore."

Excise and Taxation Minister Cheema further highlighted the severity of the document forgery. He said, "Our probe also revealed a novel modus operandi involving fraudulent debit notes through which additional fake ITC amounting to approximately ₹5.79 crore was generated. These debit notes contained glaring irregularities wherein the taxable value and tax amount were shown as identical. This is impossible under GST law and clearly establishes the blatant fabrication of records for the generation of fake ITC. Further, during search proceedings conducted under Section 67 of the PGST/CGST Act, blank Goods Receipt books belonging to various transporters were recovered from the premises of the taxpayer, indicating the fabrication of transport documents to create a false trail of movement."

Giving a stern message to tax evaders, Excise and Taxation Minister Cheema said, "In view of the substantial evidence collected during the investigation, the accused was arrested today, May 8, 2026, under Sections 69 and 132(1)(c) of the Punjab Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. Because the amount of tax evasion vastly exceeds ₹5 crore, the offense is cognizable and non-bailable, and is punishable with imprisonment up to five years along with a fine. I want to firmly reiterate the State Tax Department's commitment towards strict enforcement against fake billing rackets and GST frauds. Stringent action shall continue unabated against any persons involved in the generation

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*Bhagwant Mann Govt launches digital e-sanction system to end manual approvals, boost transparency in financial governance*

*Manual & paper based sanction process will now be replaced with fully digital workflow: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*E-sanction module will ensure accountability, budget discipline & seamless financial management: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Bhagwant Mann Govt rolls out e-sanction module USMS, eyes ₹50 crore incentive from Centre*

CHANDIGARH; 8th May 2026:The Bhagwant Mann Government on Friday marked a major milestone in financial governance with the launch of the Unified Sanction Management System (USMS). This e-sanction module was formally inaugurated by Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to digitize the processing of sanctions and seamlessly integrate them into the state's payment systems.

The strategic rollout not only replaces outdated manual processes with an end-to-end digital workflow but also aligns with central guidelines, thereby unlocking massive potential financial incentives for the state.

Discussing the launch of the e-sanction module during its launch event held here at Municipal Bhawan Auditorium, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, "To ensure better financial management, transparency and end to end digitisation Department of Treasuries & Accounts in coordination with NIC has developed an e-sanction module for issue of Admin, technical and financial sanctions online and thereafter automatic pushing of the sanction to IFMS for bill generation".

Detailing the key benefits of the e-sanction modules, the Finance Minister highlighted enhanced transparency and accountability. He said, "Every stage of sanction processing is digitally recorded with user credentials, timestamps, and approval hierarchy, creating a complete audit trail and improving accountability. The system validates budget availability before issuance of sanctions, helping departments avoid excess expenditure and ensuring adherence to budget provisions".

Regarding the digitization of sanctions, he added, "The e-Sanction module has been introduced to replace the manual and paper-based sanction process with a fully digital workflow, thereby improving efficiency and transparency in government financial administration. The module brings uniformity in the format and processing of sanction orders across departments, reducing inconsistencies and procedural errors".

On the crucial aspect of end-to-end integration with IFMS, the minister assured, "The module ensures seamless integration of sanction orders with budgeting, treasury, bill processing, and payment systems within IFMS, reducing duplication of work and manual intervention. Automated validations minimise clerical mistakes related to head of account, amount, scheme mapping, and beneficiary details".

Providing background on the portal's strategic origins, the Finance Minister said, "This module has been developed in compliance with DLI-3 under BFAIR. The Government of India has issued new Guidelines for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) 2026-27, outlining various financial reforms under different Parts. These guidelines include implementation of the "e-Sanction Module" by the office of the Directorate of Treasury & Accounts (DTA)."

Concluding his address, Harpal Singh Cheema shared his vision for the future impact of this technology. He emphasised, "Upon successful and complete rollout, this initiative is expected to drive a significant transformation in the State by ensuring seamless end-to-end traceability in the digital creation, approval and monitoring of financial, administrative and technical sanctions and will also make state eligible for Incentive of ₹50 Cr under SASCI Guidelines".

The inauguration ceremony also witnessed expert lectures on the module's working by the World Bank team and a detailed presentation by the NIC team.

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*Cashless Treatment Under Bhagwant Mann Govt’s Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana Helps Save Over 5,000 Heart Patients Across Punjab*

CHANDIGARH, May 8:For a heart under attack, every second counts. A delay of minutes can mean the difference between life and death. In Punjab, that race against time is increasingly being won, as faster angioplasty procedures, enabled by the Bhagwant Mann Government’s Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY), are helping patients receive immediate, cashless cardiac care when it matters most.

A heart attack triggers medical urgency and financial anxiety. Families struggle to arrange funds, complete paperwork, and secure hospital clearances, often losing precious time in the process. Today, that reality is changing. With the Sehat Card system, patients arriving at government and empanelled private hospitals are being fast-tracked for diagnosis and emergency angioplasty without upfront payment delays. The shift is proving critical in improving survival outcomes, particularly during the “golden hour”: the first 60 minutes after a cardiac event when timely intervention is most effective.

Globally, cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death, with the World Health Organization estimating nearly 17.9 million deaths each year. A significant number of these fatalities are linked to delayed treatment, something Punjab’s evolving healthcare system is now actively addressing.

Doctors across the state report a concerning rise in heart-related cases, not just among the elderly but increasingly among younger patients. Sedentary lifestyles, stress, unhealthy diets, and rising diabetes levels are key contributors. Yet alongside this trend, access to emergency cardiac care is improving.

According to the State Health Agency (SHA), a total of 5,054 cardiac procedures have been carried out under the Sehat Yojana in recent months. This includes 5,000 PTCA (Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty) procedures, inclusive of diagnostic angiograms, and 54 cases of peripheral angioplasty.

The total value of these treatments stands at approximately ₹496 million, with PTCA procedures accounting for the overwhelming share of both cases and expenditure.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said the impact is already visible. “More patients are surviving what was once almost certainly fatal. In those critical moments, speed, supported by systems like the Sehat Card, is becoming the state’s strongest lifesaver,” he said.

Cardiology units in hospitals are adapting rapidly. Emergency protocols are being streamlined to ensure that suspected heart attack patients are quickly assessed and moved to intervention without administrative bottlenecks.

Dr Saurabh Sharma, Associate Professor and Head of Department of Cardiology, GMC and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, says, “The Sehat Card is helping people get timely treatment. The reduction in financial hesitation is a key factor. Previously, uncertainty over treatment costs often caused families to delay consent for procedures.” Dr Sharma adds that with cashless coverage, that barrier has largely been addressed.

The transformation is significant across districts. Earlier, patients often faced dangerous delays due to referrals to larger city hospitals. Now, with wider empanelment and better-equipped facilities under the scheme, more centres are capable of initiating angioplasty without transferring patients over long distances.

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