Lucknow, March 10 -- An Income Tax Department survey at three outlets of Bombay Pav Bhaji in Lucknow has uncovered alleged billing manipulation through the restaurant billing platform Petpooja, officials said. The survey allegedly found evidence of nearly Rs.7 crore in undisclosed business turnover, leading to an additional income tax liability of over Rs.2 crore for the establishment, they added. The survey was conducted at the restaurant's outlets in Hazratganj and Gomti Nagar and continued until late Sunday night. During the operation, investigators examined billing records and software data, which reportedly revealed discrepancies between actual sales and reported income. According to officials, the restaurant's operator recorded a statement during the survey and acknowledged irregularities in billing through the software. The action in Lucknow was part of a nationwide probe triggered by intelligence from the Income Tax Department in Hyderabad. Based on the input, tax authorities conducted surveys at more than 17 restaurant establishments across the country suspected of manipulating billing records through the Petpooja software. Investigators believe the software may have been used by several restaurants to suppress actual sales and reduce taxable income, with preliminary estimates suggesting possible discrepancies worth up to Rs.70,000 crore nationwide. Officials said the IT department in Lucknow is now collecting detailed data on other restaurants in the city, including billing practices and tax payments. htc...