SMT.RITA AGARWAL ,CHENAI vs. PCIT , CHENNAI

This appeal filed by the assessee is directed against the order passed by the Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax, Central- 1, Chennai, passed u/s. 263 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”), dated 28.03.2022 and pertains to assessment year 2012-13.

The brief facts of the case are that, the assessee filed her return of income for the assessment year 2012-13 on 31.07.2012, admitting total income of Rs. 3,06,370/-. The assessment has been completed u/s. 143(3) r.w.s. 153A of the Act, on 31.03.2015 and assessed taxable income of Rs. 3,06,370/-. The case has been subsequently re-opened u/s. 147 of the Act, for the reasons recorded as per which information received by the Assessing Officer shows that, the assessee is one of the beneficiary of bogus long term capital gains derived from sale of certain shares through M/s. Onkar Supply Pvt Ltd. The assessment has been completed u/s. :-4-: ITA. No:433/Chny/2022 143(3) r.w.s. 147 of the Act on 02.12.2019 and assessed total income of Rs. 3,06,370/-.

The case has been subsequently taken up for revision proceedings by the PCIT, Central-1, and show cause notice u/s. 263 of the Act, was issued and called upon the assessee to explain as to why the assessment order passed u/s. 143(3) r.w.s. 147 of the Act dated 02.12.2019 should not be revised. In response, the assessee submitted that the assessment order passed by the AO is neither erroneous nor prejudicial to the interests of the revenue, because the purpose of re- assessment proceedings was to verify capital gain transactions declared by the assessee from sale of certain shares, and during the course of assessment proceedings, the assessee has filed all information in relation to investigation carried out by the IT Department, Kolkata and also filed necessary evidences. The AO, after considering necessary evidences has held that the assessee has never transacted with M/s. Onkar Supply Pvt Ltd and thus, accepted income declared by the assessee.

From the above, it is cogently clear that the assessee had obtained bogus accommodation entry for claiming long term capital gain exemption from its transaction in the shares of Dhanlab Merchandise merged with M/s. Bakra Pratisthan Ltd. The AO had not examined any of these aspects while completing the assessment.

During the course of suvey proceedings by the department on various M/S Onkar Supply Pvt Ltd, it was found that it was involved in providing accommodation entry in the form of bogus long term capital gains in connivance with entry operators. M/S Onkar Supply Pvt Ltd is a Kolkata based company, had opened a current account with Dhanlaxmi bank, Howrah branch on 05/01/2011. After total credit transaction of more than RS. 25.54 crores, the company closed its account on 19/10/2012. On verification it was observed that the current account of the company was credited by transfer of funds through cash as well as non cash components from various entities and was immediately debited to the accounts of the other entities. Financial date of the company for the FY 2011-12 was gathered, which clearly signifies that the company was not doing any actual business. Further, the name of the company appears in the database of the shell companies controlled and managed by Shri. Beni Prasad Lahoti. Thus, it was justa shell/paper company which facilitates ccommodation entries to beneficiaries in the form of long term capital gain. It has also been observed that trading is done in a syndicate which comprises of promoter of the company/stock, broker, entry operators of the scrip. The transactions held in bank account are nothing but the routing of the fund for ultimate purpose to provide accommodation entry to beneficiaries.

The above has been acknowledged by the assessee in his reply filed before the AO, where the entire reasons recorded was reproduced. A careful perusal of the same would reveal that the information recorded by the AO comprise – (a) M/s Onkar Supply Pvt. Ltd. was engaged in providing accommodation entry in connivance with entry operators. (b) M/s Onkar Supply Pvt. Ltd. is one of the shell companies controlled and managed by Shri Beni Prasad Lahoti, entry operator. (c) Shri Ashok Kumar Kayan, a broker acted as an entry operator in providing accommodation entries for long term capital. gains through trading in bogus penny scrips. (d) As per sworn statement of the broker Shri Ashok Kumar Kayan the assessee is one of the beneficiaries of such bogus transaction. (e) The assessee has introduced unaccounted cash into the books by way of accommodation entries provided by the broker. (f) Assessee had entered in the trading of M/s. Onkar Supply Pvt. Ltd. and traded shares of the said scrip of M/s Onkar Süpply Pvt. Ltd. and traded shares to the tune of Rs.26,43,225/- and the assessee had not brought the amount of Rs.26,43,225/- to tax in its books of account.

Thus, it could be seen very early that the AO was in possession of information and evidence that the assessee had benefitted from bogus long term capital gains transaction from the accommodation entry provided by the broker Shri Ashok Kumar Kayan, who is a known bogus entry operator. The said Ashok Kumar Kayan had deposed that the assessee was a beneficiary from the bogus accommodation entries provided. However, while completing the assessment, the AO did not make any inquiry to verify the genuineness of the transaction :-9-: ITA. No:433/Chny/2022 in regard to shares of M/s Dhanlabh Merchandise Ltd which merged into M/s Bakra Prathistan Ltd; and the genuineness of the transaction done with Mr. Ashok kumar kayan. The AO also did not apply his mind on the information with him and the evidence in the form of sworn statements of the entry operator Beny Prasad Lakhoti that M/s Dhanlabh Merchandise Ltd and M/s Bakra Prathistan Ltd were few of the many shell companies managed and controlled by him for providing accommodation entries; and of Ashok Kumar Kayan that he had provided bogus Long term capital gain entry to the assesse and that the share transfer transaction was bogus. Despite having specific information that M/s. Dhanlabh Merchandise Ltd. is a shell company and the deposition of Ashok Kumar Kayan that the assessee was a beneficiary of the accommodation entries provided by him through bogus entries, and that the assessee had shown long term capital gain from sale of share of M/s. Dhanlabh Merchandise Ltd. which merged with M/s. Bakra Prathisthan Ltd., the AO did not attempt to make any inquiry or verification over the information and evidence with him. The AO had not even attempted to cross check the information with the reasons recorded and the submissions made before him. There is no discussion in the assessment order on the various matters recorded in the reasons to believe and his inferences on them. It could be seen that the in the reasons recorded that here are various information and evidence. The AO without examining any of the said information and evidence, assumed that the bogus transaction related to sale of share of M/s Onkar Supply Pvt Ltd and ạs the assesse had replied that it had not dealt with theshares of M/s Onkar Supply Pvt Ltd further assumed that the share transactions on Bakra Prathistan Ltd was à genuine one. The information that M/s Dhanlabh Merchandise was a shell company and the evidence in the form of sworn deposition of Mr. Ashok Kumar Kayan, that the asessee was a beneficiary of bogus long term capital gain transaction was not considered and examined at all while making the decision. In this regard, it is relevant to refer to the principle laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Malabar Industrial Co. Ltd. vs. Commissioner of Income-tax [2000] 243 TTR 83 (SC)2000] 109 Taxman 66 (SC) that an incorrect assumption of facts or an incorrect application of law will satisfy the requirement of the order being erroneous. In the same category fall orders passed without applying the principles of natural justice or without application of mind. The Gawhati High Court Full bench in the case of CIT v Jawahar :-10-: ITA. No:433/Chny/2022 Bhattacharjee 341 ITR 434 (Gau) (FB) held that, Jurisdiction under section 263 can be exercised whenever it is found that the order of assessment was erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of the Revenue. Cases of assessment order passed on wrong assumption of facts, or incorrect application of law, without due application of mind or without following the principles of natural justice are not beyond the scope of section 263 of the Act." Further, it is relevant to refer to the decision of the Honourable Calcutta High Court. in the case of CIT Vs Maithan International 56 taxmann.com 283 (Calcutta) where in it " When the requisite enquiry was not made, the order is bound to be If the relevant enquiry was observed, erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the revenue was not made, it may in appropriate cases amount to no enquiry and may also be a case of non-application of mind. ......t is not the law that the Assessing Officer occupying the position of an investigator and adjudicator can discharge his functions by perfunctory or inadequate investigation. Such a course is bound to result in erroneous and prejudicial orders. Where the relevant enquiry was not undertaken, as in this case, the order is erroneous and prejudicial too and therefore revisable Investigation should always be faithful and fruitful. Unless all truthful areas of enquiry are pursued the enquiry cannot be said to have been faithfully conducted." In Rajmandir Estates Pvt Ltd v Pr CIT, the Calcutta High Court held that where the AO did not apply his mind to certain pieces of evidence which should have provoked him to make further investigation but not made would be a justifiable reason to invoke jurisdiction under sec. 263 of the IT Act.

In this regard, it is relevant to refer to the Explanation 2 to sec. 263 which reads as under: Explanation 2. -- For the purposes of this section, it is hereby declared that an order passed by the Assessing Officer shall be deemed to be erroneous in so far as it is prejudicial to the interests of the revenue, if, in the opinion of the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner- (a) the order is passed without making inquiries or verification which should have been made; (b) the order is passed allowing any relief without inquiring into the claim; (c) the order has not been made in accordance with any order, direction or instruction issued by the Board under :-11-: ITA. No:433/Chny/2022 section 119; or 3 Singh Suri (d) the order has not been passed in accordance with any decision which is prejudicial to the assessee, rendered by the jurisdictional High Court or Supreme Court in the case of the assessee or any other person.

The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Deniel Merchants Pvt. Ltd. vs. ITO (Appeal No. 2396/I2017) dated 29.11.2017 upheld the view that the ClIT is justified in invoking sec. 263 if the AO did not make any proper inquiry while making the assessment.

I find that the AO had not made any inquiry much less relevant inquiry to verify the genuineness of share transfer transaction. Admittedly, the assessee had done share transfer transaction with the broker Mr. Ashok Kumar Kayan. The AO was very much having the sworn deposition of the share broker Mr. Ashok Kumar Kayan that he had only provided accommodation entries and that the assessee was one among the beneficiaries of long term capital gain. But without inquiry and without application of mind, the AO had accepted the transaction and failed to make addition, though prima facie evidence on record showed that the transaction was bogus. Thus, the order passed by the AO without making any inquiry and verification, without considering the evidence available with him; on wrong assumption of certain facts and non- application of mind over the information and evidence with him makes the assessment order erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of revenue.

It would also be relevant to refer to the decision of the the Hon’ble Madras High Court in the case of Smt. Tharakumari, TTO upheld the addition on account of bogus sale of shares under section 68 of the I.T. Act. Further, in the case of Pr.CIT v 15th Prabha Jain dated September 2021 (indiarnkanoon.org/doc/ 697648699/), the Court upheld the addition made u/s.68 in respect of claim of exemption from bogus capital gain u/s.10(38) of the I.T. Act. In this case also, the subject sale for claiming bogus capital gain exemption pertained to sale of shares of M/s. Dhanlabh Merchandise Ltd. merged with M/s. Bakra Prathisthan Ltd.

M/s Bakra Pratisthan Ltd. has been reported as suspected shell company in the Corporate Affairs in its letter in 331 companies identified by the Ministry of F.No.03/73/2017-CL-ll :-12-: ITA. No:433/Chny/2022 dated 09.07.2017.addressed to the Securities and Exchange Board of India for initiating necessary action.

Now coming to the pleas raised, it is totally incorrect to contend that the sole basis for invoking sec. 263 was the error in stating the reasons recorded. The proceedings under sec. 263 was initiated as the assessment order was erroneous as the AO did not make any inquiry to verify the genuineness of the alleged share facie material information to show transfer transaction, even though there was primate that the alleged share transfer transaction was bogus. Besides, various incriminating information and evidence formed the basis for the reopening of the assessment. Mere error in one piece of information recorded by the AO do not affect its validity, as all the other information and evidence directly prove prima facie the non-genuineness of the transaction. The failure of the AO to make any inquiry in respect of any of this information made the assessment erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of Revenue. The assessee's nexus is very evident from the sworn deposition of Ashok Kumar Kayan that he had provided accommodation entries to the assesse for claiming benefit of exemption of long term capital gains.

It was contended that the CIT cannot revise the reassessment for the mistakes in the reasons recorded which was with the approval of the CIT. The argument is totally misleading. The functions performed by the CIT in giving approval under sec. 147 and in invoking the jurisdiction under sec. 263 are entirely different. While giving approval for the purpose of reopening the assessment under sec. 147 it is necessary that the AO has reasons to believe that income has escaped assessment. On the other hand, the power of revision is exercised by the CIT over the assessment order passed by the AO;and the pre-requisite conditions for the exercise of such jurisdiction is the satisfaction of the twin conditions that the order was erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of the revenue. The reassessment order passed by the AO is erroneous as he had not made the relevant inquiry to verify the genuineness of the share transfer transaction, even though there was information with the AO that M/s Dhanlabh Merchandise Ltd, and M/s Bakra Prasisthan Ltd were shell companies, and sworn deposition of the broker Ashok kumar Kayan that he had only provided accommodation entries to the assessee to claim long term capital gain benefit. The typographical error in the reasons recorded, admitted by the :-13-: ITA. No:433/Chny/2022 assessee, does not affect the exercise of jurisdiction under sec. 263 when the pre-requisite conditions are satisfied. Therefore, there is no merit in these pleas and it does not in any manner affect the principles of natural justice. Nor is it arbitrary, as the jurisdictional functions are to be exercised within the confines prescribed by the statute.

In view of the foregoing discussion, the assessment order dated 02.12.2019 passed u/s 143(3) r.w.s 147 for the AY2012- 13 in the assessee's case is held to be erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of revenue and the same is set-aside u/s 263of the Income tax Act to the file of the Assessing Officer with a direction to make assessment, after carrying unnecessary inquiries to verify the genuineness of the alleged share transfer transaction conducted through the broker Mr. Ashok kumar kayan in respect of shares Ms Dhanlabh Merchandise Ltd, merged with M/s Bakra Prathisthan Ltd and to examine the genuineness of the claim of exemption of long term capital gains after affording sufficient opportunity of hearing to the assessee.”

The ld. Counsel for the assessee, submitted that the Ld. PCIT erred in setting aside the assessment order in exercise of his powers conferred u/s. 263 of the Act, without appreciating fact that while invoking power under revisionary jurisdiction, the PCIT must satisfy himself about erroneous order passed by the AO which caused prejudice to the interests of the revenue. In this case, the sole purpose for re-opening of assessment is to verify information received from Income-tax Department, Kolkata and during the re-assessment proceedings the assessee has filed all possible evidence and explained to the Assessing Officer that long term capital gains declared for the relevant assessment year is nothing to do with transactions :-14-: ITA. No:433/Chny/2022 with M/s. Onkar Supply Pvt Ltd, a Kolkata based company operated by Shri. Ashok Kumar Kayan. The AO, after considering relevant facts has rightly concluded the assessment without there being any addition towards capital gains and thus, it cannot be said that assessment order passed by the AO is erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of the revenue. In this regard, he relied upon the decision of Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the case of PCIT vs Laxman Industrial Resources Ltd [2017] 397 ITR 106 (Del).

The ld. DR, on the other hand supporting the order of the PCIT submitted that, the PCIT has elaborately discussed the issue in light of sworn statement recorded from Shri. Ashok Kumar Kayan, where he had categorically admitted that assessee is one of the beneficiaries of accommodation entries in the form of long term capital gains through various companies. The PCIT, had also discussed the issue in light of modes of operating employed by entry providers and also linked bogus long term capital gains declared by the assessee to said operations, and thus rightly held that assessment order passed by the AO is erroneous in so far it is prejudicial to the interests of the revenue. He, further referring to the :-15-: ITA. No:433/Chny/2022 assessment order dated 02.12.2019 submitted that no doubt the assessee has submitted written submissions on the issue and enclosed certain information. But, fact remains that the AO has not carried out required enquiries he ought to have been carried out in light of explanation (2) to section 263 of the Act. Therefore, the PCIT has rightly assumed jurisdiction and set aside the assessment order and their order should be upheld.

We have heard both the parties, perused materials available on record and gone through orders of the authorities below. The provisions of section 263 of the Act, confers powers to PCIT to revise the assessment order, in case PCIT satisfies himself that the order passed by the AO is erroneous in so far as it is prejudicial to the interests of the revenue. In other words, in order to invoke jurisdiction u/s. 263 of the Act, twin conditions embedded therein must be satisfied. Further, even if the order passed by the AO is erroneous but not prejudicial to the interests of the revenue and vis-à-vis, the PCIT cannot invoke Jurisdiction and set aside order and this legal proportion is laid down by various courts including Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Malabar Industries Co vs :-16-: ITA. No:433/Chny/2022 CIT [2000] 243 ITR 83 (SC). In this legal background, if you examine facts of the present case, the PCIT has set aside the assessment order passed by the AO u/s. 143(3) r.w.s. 147 dated 02.12.2019, on the sole issue of long term capital gains declared by the assessee u/s. 10(38) of the Act. The PCIT, has discussed the issue in light of information received from Income-tax Department, Kolkata and more particularly statement recorded from One Mr. Ashok Kumar Kayan, claimed to be entry provider for various companies. As per said sworn statement of Shri Ashok Kumar Kayan, it was noticed that the assessee is one of the beneficiary of bogus long term capital gains of accommodation entries by the entry operator. Therefore, the PCIT came to the conclusion that although the assessment has been re-opened for specific purpose of examination on information received from Income- tax Department, Kolkata, but the AO simply completed re- assessment by accepting explanation furnished by the assessee without carrying out required enquiries he ought to have been carried out in terms of explanation (2) to section 263 of the Act, which rendered the assessment order as erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of the revenue.

At this stage, it is relevant to refer to the decisions relied upon by the Ld. Counsel for the assessee in the case of PCIT :-20-: ITA. No:433/Chny/2022 vs Laxman Industrial Resources Ltd (supra), where the Hon’ble Delhi High Court has considered an identical issue on bogus long term capital gains, in light of report of investigation wing and after considering relevant facts, the Hon’ble High Court clearly held that the AO cannot come to the conclusion on the basis of report of investigation wing that transactions of the assessee are bogus in nature, unless he conducts necessary enquiries to ascertain correct facts with regard to nature of transactions. The relevant findings of the Delhi High Court are as under: “It is argued by the Revenue that the ITAT should have taken appropriate steps and remitted the matter, not merely confirming the CIT(A)'s opinion since the Investigation Wing's report confirmed unequivocally that the assessee was beneficiary to bogus transactions whereby the genuineness of identity of the shareholders, the genuineness and identity of the share applicants and the genuineness of transactions was suspect. This Court notices that the assessee had provided several documents that could have showed light into whether truly the transactions were genuine. It was not a case where the share applicants are merely provided confirmation letters. They had provided their particulars, PAN details, assessment particulars, mode of payment for share application money, i.e. through banks, bank statements, cheque numbers in question, copies of minutes of resolutions authorizing the applications, copies of balance sheets, profit and loss accounts for the year under consideration and even bank statements showing the source of payments made by the companies to the assessee as well as their master debt with ROC particulars. The AO strangely failed to conduct any scrutiny of documents and rested content by placing reliance merely on a report of the Investigation Wing. This reveals spectacular disregard to an AO's duties in the remand proceedings which the Revenue seeks to inflict upon :-21-: ITA. No:433/Chny/2022 the assessee in this case. No substantial question of law arises. The appeal is dismissed.”

From the above, it is very clear that report of investigation wing is not sacrosanct, but what is necessary to decide the issue is whether said transactions are genuine or not, is independent enquiry in light of available materials. In this case, the evidences filed by the assessee before the AO during the re-assessment proceedings clearly shows that long term capital gains declared u/s. 10(38) of the Act is nothing to do with survey conducted in the case of M/s. Onkar Supply Pvt Ltd and statement recorded from Shri Ashok Kumar Kayan. Therefore, we are of the considered view that capital gains declared by the assessee from sale of certain shares cannot be considered as bogus only on the basis of report of Income-tax Department.

In the result, appeal filed by the assessee is allowed. Order pronounced in the court on 24th February, 2023 at Chennai.