Chandigarh, April 7 -- Punjab recovered a record Rs.1,137.85 crore through crackdowns on tax evasion in financial year 2025-26, finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Monday. The taxation department also imposed penalties worth Rs.1,383.11 crore during the year, recovering over 80% of the amount. "Inspection-based enforcement accounted for the bulk of the action, contributing Rs.972.15 crore in recoveries, while road checking operations added Rs.165.71 crore. The performance marks a multi-fold increase over FY 2024-25, when inspection enforcement led to Rs.147.28 crore in penalties and Rs.41.53 crore in recoveries," he detailed. Enforcement also led to eight FIRs and 15 arrests through the year. Investigations further uncovered large-scale fake billing networks, including Rs.900 crore in gold transactions in Ludhiana, Rs.226 crore in illicit coal trade across Mohali, Kharar and Kotkapura, and Rs.423 crore in bogus billing across Ludhiana and Mandi Gobindgarh. HTC...