## GST, Income Tax Sleuths Raid 100 Restaurants Across 45 Cities Over Systematic Bill Deletion Scam Linked to ₹5,000 Cr Concealed Sales
Tax officials from the GST and income tax departments have launched a sweeping investigation into what sources describe as a systemic pattern of sales manipulation across India's restaurant sector. Since the end of last year, sleuths have conducted raids on approximately 100 restaurants spanning 45 cities, uncovering evidence that eateries were quietly deleting or tampering with bills hours after transactions were completed—effectively erasing the sales trail that tax authorities rely upon for compliance verification.

At the center of scrutiny is restaurant management software provider Petpooja, which has drawn attention for features that could theoretically allow businesses to modify or remove recorded sales after customer receipts were printed. Sources familiar with the investigation told Inc42 that several arrests have already been made in connection with the alleged fraud. The concealed sales figure in Punjab alone has reportedly crossed ₹5,000 Cr, with investigators expecting the total to climb significantly as the probe expands to cover more establishments and jurisdictions.

The investigation signals heightened pressure on the restaurant industry, which has long operated on thin margins and faced scrutiny over cash-based transactions. Tax authorities are now scrutinizing the gap between reported sales and reasonable estimates based on input costs, foot traffic, and geographic norms. The implications extend beyond individual businesses to software providers and industry practices that may have facilitated systematic non-compliance. Officials warn that as more restaurants come under the lens, the full scale of the alleged concealment could reshape how the sector is regulated and taxed going forward.
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- **Source**: Inc42
- **Sector**: The Vault
- **Tags**: tax fraud, GST, restaurant industry, bill manipulation, Petpooja
- **Credibility**: unverified
- **Published**: 2026-04-24 16:24:12
- **ID**: 76906
- **URL**: https://whisperx.ai/en/intel/76906