Punjab govt fudged excise figures: SAD

A day after Punjab Excise Department claimed a “marked increase” in revenue in past three years, S on Saturday accused state government of “fudging figures”.

“Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is lying to people and fudging figures to show an increase in revenue,” S leer Bikram Singh Majithia alleged here.

He claimed that Congress-led government h caused consistent losses to exchequer as far as liquor tax collections were concerned for past three years.

Shiromani Akali Dal leer alleged that some Congress leers were running illegal distilleries and involved in bootlegging.

A Rs 2,000-crore liquor scam, along with a revenue loss of Rs 3,600 crore, has taken place under current regime, Majithia alleged, seeking an independent inquiry into issue.

Referring to recent showdown between some Punjab ministers and chief secretary, Majithia said it showed how chief minister and his colleagues h taken an opposite stand on issue.

Excise and Taxation department on Friday h said revenue receipts h shown a “marked increase” since Amarinder Singh government came to power in 2017.

It h stressed that it has t incurred any losses in financial year 2019-20, except those resulting from COVID-related lockdown.

department's statement h come after 10 Congress legislators and a Rajya Sabha MP on Wednesday demanded a probe against Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh, blaming him for revenue loss.

crisis was triggered by a showdown between two ministers and chief secretary at a meeting.

Later, Karan Avtar Singh was relieved of ditional charge of Financial Commissioner, Taxation.