Chandigarh, February 9: Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise, and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema disclosed penalties and prizes under the ‘Bill Liao Inam Pao’ scheme.

Penalties and Prize Distribution

Cheema revealed a total penalty of Rs. 3,11,16,366 for 533 incorrect bills, with recoveries of Rs. 2,12,18,191. Additionally, 918 winners received prizes amounting to Rs. 43,73,555 through the “Mera Bill App.”

Verification and Notices

Out of 59,616 bills, 52,988 have been verified, with 6628 bills pending verification. Notices have been issued to 1361 vendors, notably in Ferozepur taxation district.

District-wise Penalties

Cheema detailed penalties imposed across districts: Faridkot (Rs. 16,95,294), Patiala (Rs. 19,47,192), Jalandhar (Rs. 33,62,324), Ropar (Rs. 50,43,524), Amritsar (Rs. 59,72,910), and Ludhiana (Rs. 95,95,872).

Winners Declaration and Draws

1164 winners have been declared, including 246 for January 2024, through monthly online draws led by a Punjab Government committee.

Prize Distributions

Prizes ranged from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 11,75,005 for winners across months, with January 2024’s draw held on February 7.

Scheme Participation and Exclusions

Cheema urged citizens to participate monthly, stressing tax compliance. Excluded from the scheme are bills for petroleum products, liquor, purchases outside Punjab, and B2B transactions. Only bills from the previous month are eligible for the draw.