'Bill Liayo Inam Pao' Scheme: 3592 Winners Rewarded with Prizes More Than Rs. 2 Crore for Promoting Tax Compliance

Fine of More Than Rs 8 Crore imposed against 749 bills found with discrepancies

'Bill Liayo Inam Pao' Scheme is shining example of Mann government's proactive approach to tax governance: Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema

Chandigarh, December 15-Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday announced the remarkable success of the "Bill Liayo Inam Pao" scheme, which has rewarded 3,592 winners with prizes worth Rs. 2,11,42,495 for uploading their purchase bills on the ‘Mera Bill’ app till December 2024.

In a press communiqué issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that this innovative scheme, launched in September 2023, aimed to promote tax compliance and reward honest taxpayers, has successfully encouraged consumers to upload 1,27,509 bills since its inception. He said that the prizes worth Rs. 1,59,93,965 have already been distributed to 2,752 winners. “247 winners, winning prizes worth Rs 15,02,010, have been declared for the month of November 2024”, he added.

Highlighting the significant impact of the scheme in curbing tax evasion and increasing revenue for the state, Finance Minister Cheema lauded the scheme for its effectiveness in promoting transparency and accountability in tax collection. He emphasized that the initiative has not only incentivized consumers to participate actively in the tax system but has also played a crucial role in identifying and penalizing irregularities. “A fine of Rs 8,21,87,862 has been imposed against 749 bills found with discrepancies, showcasing the government's commitment to ensuring tax compliance and fairness”, said Cheema.

The Finance Minister said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has implemented several progressive measures to enhance revenue generation and ensure the efficient utilization of public funds. “This scheme is a shining example of the government's proactive approach to governance and its unwavering commitment to the welfare of its citizens”, he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the bills related to the sale and purchase of petroleum products, including crude oil, petrol, diesel, aviation turbine fuel, and natural gas, as well as Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions, are excluded from participating in this scheme.

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Social Security Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur Attends Annual Event Organized by Punjab Divyang Action Committee

Chandigarh, December 15:Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, today participated as chief guest in the annual event organized by the Punjab Divyang Action Committee at Tarn Taran. During the event, she honored differently-abled individuals who have excelled in various fields.

Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur highlighted the schemes initiated by the Punjab Government to empower and ensure the collective development of differently-abled individuals. She emphasized that the Punjab Government is committed to protecting their rights and providing them with access to education, employment and healthcare facilities.

The minister also discussed welfare schemes for Divyang persons, such as pension plans, free travel facilities and self-employment initiatives. She stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, new schemes are being implemented at the grassroots level for the betterment of Divyang persons.

During the event, members of the committee expressed their gratitude to Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur for addressing several demands of Divyang persons in recent times. They also presented additional issues to her, and the minister assured them of resolving their concerns promptly.

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PUNJAB POLICE BUSTS ILLEGAL GUNRUNNING RACKET BACKED BY USA-BASED HANDLERS; TWO HELD WITH 10 PISTOLS

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A SAFE AND SECURE STATE

ARRESTED ACCUSED PERSONS WERE SMUGGLING WEAPONS FROM MP AND JHARKHAND, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV

— ARRESTED ACCUSED SATNAM SINGH HAS A CRIMINAL HISTORY, WAS OUT ON BAIL: AIG CI ASR SUKHMINDER MANN

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, December 15: In an intelligence-led operation, State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Amritsar has busted an inter-state illegal gunrunning module backed by USA based handlers with the arrest of its two members and recovered 10 .32 bore country-made pistols along with 20 magazines and ammunition from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.

Those arrested have been identified as Satnam Singh alias Prince, a resident of Buttar Kalan of Batala and Manjit Singh, resident of Bhagi Nangal in Batala.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed that primarily, accused Satnam alias Prince was in touch with his USA-based handler identified as Sunny Masih alias Gulli, who is wanted in multiple cases of heroin smuggling. For his convenience, accused Satnam also involved his relative Manjit into drug peddling and transportation of illegal weapons, he said.

He said that investigations have also revealed that the accused persons were procuring illegal weapons from Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand on the directions of their USA based handler to further supply them to Punjab-based gangsters.

The DGP said that further investigations are going on to establish backward and forward linkages to unearth the entire network of this module.

Sharing more details, AIG SSOC Amritsar Sukhminder Singh Mann said that SSOC Amritsar has received a secret information that Sunny Masih alias Gulli, a native of Dhianpur in Gurdaspur and currently residing in USA, is running an inter-state weapons smuggling module in the state with the help of his associates. In pursuit of the input, the teams of SSOC Amritsar launched an intel-based operation and arrested two members of this module after recovering a weapon consignment from their possession, he said.

He said that during questioning, arrested accused Satnam has revealed that Sunny Masih used to pay him courier charges on per delivery basis. Accused also revealed that around one month ago, he smuggled four weapons from MP to Punjab for which he was paid Rs 10,000 and for the current delivery, Sunny had promised him to pay Rs 20,000.

The AIG said that accused Satnam Singh has a criminal history with at least three cases under NDPS Act registered against him. The latter was released on bail on July 30, 2024.

In this regard, a case FIR No. 70 dated 15.12.2024 has been registered under sections 25, 25 (6) and 25 (7) of the Arms Act and sections 111 and 61 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station SSOC Amritsar.