Punjab Cracks Down on Tax Evasion by Hotels and Restaurants Using ‘Pet Pooja’

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday announced that the state government will initiate criminal proceedings against the Gujarat-based ‘Pet Pooja’ app in connection with a major tax evasion case. Taking serious note of the matter, the minister stated that the app was allegedly used by hotels and restaurants in Punjab to evade Goods and Services Tax (GST). According to initial findings, a turnover of approximately ₹500 crore has been concealed through the use of this platform. Cheema informed that during the investigation of 239 cases, GST evasion amounting to ₹2.54 crore has been detected so far, out of which ₹2.02 crore has already been recovered. He further revealed that around 882 establishments in Punjab were using the ‘Pet Pooja’ app. The minister also highlighted that the impact of a nationwide ‘Pet Pooja GST’ scam, estimated at around ₹70,000 crore, has extended to Punjab as well. Preliminary investigations have confirmed GST evasion worth crores through the app in the state. Officials from the Punjab Tax Department have traced instances of GST evasion in major cities including Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana. So far, inspections have been conducted at hundreds of dhabas, restaurants, and hotels across the state. The government has made it clear that strict action will be taken against all individuals and entities involved in tax evasion, and no violators will be spared under the law.