DCIT , CENTRAL-2, INDORE vs. M/S VENUS ENTERPRISES , INDORE

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ITA 727/IND/2018Status: DisposedITAT Indore26 November 202123 pages

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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, INDORE BENCH, INDORE

Before: SHRI MAHAVIR PRASAD & SHRI MANISH BORAD

For Respondent: Shri S.S. Mantri, CIT-DR, Shri C.P. Rawka & Venus Rawka, CAs
Hearing: 06.10.2021Pronounced: 26.11.2021

1 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

अपील�य अ�धकरण, इ�दौर �यायपीठ, इ�दौर

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL INDORE BENCH, INDORE

BEFORE SHRI MAHAVIR PRASAD, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI MANISH BORAD, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER (Virtual hearing)

IT(SS)A Nos.14 to 17/Ind/2017 Assessment Years: 2009-10 to 2012-13

ACIT, Central-2 M/s. Ajitnath Reality P. Ltd., Indore Indore बनाम/ (Appellant) (Respondent) Vs. PA No. AAFCA 5071 M

C.O. No.15/Ind/2018 (Arising out of IT(SS)A No.17/Ind/2017) Assessment Year: 2012-13

M/s. Ajitnath ACIT, Central-2 Reality P. Ltd., Indore बनाम/ Indore Vs. (Appellant) (Respondent) PA No. AAFCA 5071 M

2 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others IT(SS)A Nos.20 & 21/Ind/2017 Assessment Years: 2011-12 & 2012-13

ACIT, Central-2 M/s. Padamprabhu Infrastructure Indore & Reality P. Ltd., Indore बनाम/ (Appellant) (Respondent) Vs. PA No. AAECP 3708 P

IT(SS)A Nos.127/Ind/2017 & IT(SS)A Nos.727/Ind/2018 Assessment Years: 2012-13 & 2011-12

ACIT, Central-2 M/s. Venus Enterprises, Indore Indore बनाम/ (Appellant) (Respondent) Vs. PA No. AAHFV 5486 E

Department by Shri S.S. Mantri, CIT-DR Assessees by S/Shri C.P. Rawka & Venus Rawka, CAs

Date of Hearing: 06.10.2021 Date of Pronouncement: 26.11.2021 आदेश / O R D E R PER MANISH BORAD:

The above captioned appeals filed by the Revenue and Cross-objection filed by the assessee are directed against the different orders of Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax(Appeals)-III,

3 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

[in short ‘CIT(A)’], Indore dated 26.10.2016, 26.10.2016,

23.11.2016 & 07.6.2018 passed in different assessment orders

relating to Section 153A/143(3) dated 31.3.2015, 31.3.2015,

31.3.2015 & 25.2.2016, respectively. Both the parties submitted

that the lead case is Ajitnath Reality P. Ltd. and the decision

taken for the assessment year 2009-10 will be applicable in the

present group appeals as the same are also having identical facts

and issue. Thus, we shall take up the case of Ajitnath Reality P.

Ltd. for the assessment year 2009-10 to 2012-13 at first wherein,

the Revenue has raised the grounds in the departmental appeals

as under:

Ajitnath Reality P. Ltd.

Grounds of appeal in IT(SS)A No.14/Ind/2017 (A.Y. 2009-10) “1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in deleting the addition of Rs.42,75,63,950/- made by the AO on account of undisclosed sales from Silicon City Project without appreciating the facts and evidences brought into light by the A.O. during assessment proceeding. 2. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in allowing the appeals of assessee by accepting the additional evidences of affidavits for retraction of statements of purchaser of plot in Silicon City Project.”

Grounds of appeal in IT(SS)A No.15/Ind/2017 (A.Y. 2010-11) “1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in deleting the addition of Rs.86,76,80,515/- made by the AO on account of undisclosed sales from Silicon City Project without appreciating the facts and evidences brought into light by the A.O. during assessment proceeding. 2. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in allowing the appeals of assessee by accepting the additional

4 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

evidences of affidavits for retraction of statements of purchaser of plot in Silicon City Project.”

Grounds of appeal in IT(SS)A No.16/Ind/2017 (A.Y. 2011-12) “1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in deleting the addition of Rs.14,06,73,816/- made by the AO on account of undisclosed sales from Silicon City Project without appreciating the facts and evidences brought into light by the A.O. during assessment proceeding. 2. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in allowing the appeals of assessee by accepting the additional evidences of affidavits for retraction of statements of purchaser of plot in Silicon City Project.”

Grounds of appeal in IT(SS)A No.17/Ind/2017 (A.Y. 2012-13) “1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in deleting the addition of Rs.11,80,86,176/- made by the AO on account of undisclosed sales from Silicon City Project without appreciating the facts and evidences brought into light by the A.O. during assessment proceeding. 2. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in allowing the appeals of assessee by accepting the additional evidences of affidavits for retraction of statements of purchaser of plot in Silicon City Project.”

Grounds of appeal in CO No.15/Ind/2018 filed by the assessee for the A.Y. 2012-13 “1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in confirming the addition of Rs.15,26,400/- made by the Assessing Officer on account of undisclosed sales for the assessment year 2012-13.”

2.

The only issue involved in the departmental appeals in case

of Ajitnath Reality P. Ltd. relates to deletion of the additions

made by the Assessing Officer on account of undisclosed

sales from Silicon City Project. Briefly stated facts as culled

5 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

out from the records are that the assessee filed return of income

for the above assessment years declaring total income as under:

Assessment Year Date of filing of return Returned Income u/s 139(1) 2009-10 12/09/200 Rs.21,71,160/- 9 2010-11 14/08/201 Rs.2,33,26,660/- 0 2011-12 07/09/201 Rs.2,63,64,810/- 1 2012-13 31/08/201 Rs.1,50,77,910/- 2

Search and Seizure operations u/s 132 were carried out on the

business as well as residential premises of the Jhaveri Group,

Indore including the assessee along with other

concerns/business associates on 21/09/2012. Notices u/s 153A

were issued to the assessee and in compliance, the assessee filed

returns of income declaring the same total income as filed in the

original return. Notice u/s 143(2) was issued along with

questionnaire u/s 142(1) and in response, the assessee from time

to time furnished written submissions along with supporting

documents. Subsequently, the assessment order was passed by

Assessing Officer on 31/03/2015 by making following additions:

Assessment Year Returned Income Total Additions to Income

2009-10 Rs.21,71,160/- Rs.42,75,63,950/- 2010-11 Rs.2,33,26,660/- Rs.86,76,80,515/-

6 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

2011-12 Rs.2,63,64,810/- Rs.14,06,73,816/- 2012-13 Rs.1,50,77,910/- Rs.11,96,12,576/-

The Assessing Officer made the above additions on the basis of

some letters received from four people namely Shri Dinesh

Purohit, Smt. Manisha Patel, Shri Ankit Jain and Smt. Vijaya

Pawar where they have stated that they paid on money over and

above the amount for which the Registries have been done.

3.

Being aggrieved, the assessee filed appeal before the ld.

CIT(A) and also raised additional grounds stating that the

provisions of Section153A are not applicable in the absence of

any incriminating material found and seized during the course of

the search. However, the ld. CIT(A) having gone through the

assessment order and the appellant’s contentions, was of the

opinion that no incriminating evidence pertaining to the project

Silicon City has been found and seized during the course of the

search. Thus, the appeal was partly allowed by the ld. CIT(A)

deleting the additions completely in assessment year 2009-10,

2010-11 and 2011-12. Whereas for the assessment year 2012-13,

addition of Rs.15,26,400/- was confirmed and balance amount of

Rs. 11,80,86,176/- was deleted.

7 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

4.

Being aggrieved, the Revenue is in appeals before this

Tribunal whereas the assessee has filed cross-objection for the

assessment year 2012-13.

5.

The ld. CIT-DR relied upon the order of the Assessing

Officer. Per contra, the ld. counsel for the assessee referred and

relied on the findings of Ld. CIT(A) to the extent of deletion of

additions and submitted that no single incriminating document

pertaining to assessee was found/seized from the assessee’s

premises relevant to the project Silicon City. But, the Assessing

Officer presumed on the basis of some letters received from four

persons that the assessee accepted large portion of Sale

Consideration on sale of land in cash and the same was not

accounted for by them which was not justified as the additions

were made by the Assessing Officer without appreciating the fact

that neither any cash was found or seized nor any document

relating to cash receipts was found or seized during the search

proceedings. Thus, learned Counsel for the assessee contended

that the confirmation of the addition of Rs.15,26,400/- by the ld.

CIT(A) was not justified as ld. CIT(A) deleted the additions holding

8 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

that no incriminating evidence material was found during the

course of search operation.

6.

We have heard the rival contentions and carefully perused

the records placed before us. We find that the Ld. CIT-DR, except

placing his reliance on the findings of the Assessing Officer, could

not bring any corroborative material on record to justify the

additions made by the Assessing Officer. We find that the ld.

CIT(A) having gone through the material available on record,

submissions and relevant judicial pronouncements deleted the

additions by observing as under:

“The assessing officer has relied on the statements of four persons to reach the conclusion that M/s Ajitnath Reality Pvt. Ltd., M/s Padamprabhu Infrastructure and Reality Pvt. Ltd. And M/s Venus Enterprises have accepted larger portion of the sale considerations in cash and the same was not accounted for by them. However, nothing has been brought on record whether the correctness or genuineness of the statements was investigated. The source of alleged on money paid to the appellant company has not been examined by the assessing officer. The4 customers who had given statements accepting the payment of on money have not been subjected to any query on the source of the investment regarding payment of the on money. This point becomes significant as it was brought up by the appellant in its submissions before the assessing officer. …………………..

To sum up, the assessing officer has primarily made the addition on the basis of testimonies of 4 persons out of

9 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

which the testimony of 2 persons is discredited after the filing of the Affidavits by the appellant in the appeal proceedings. Further, there is a violation of the principles of natural justice as the appellant was not permitted to cross examine the person on whose statement the assessing officer relied, it would amount to deficiency, amounting to a denial of opportunity and therefore, violation of principles of natural justice. The assessing officer also did not verify whether such persons declared the aforesaid higher price paid for the purchase of property than shown in sale deed in their individual Income Tax returns. In the absence of any evidence linking the payments stated to have been paid by 4 purchasers of the plots, merely based on their statements it could not be stated that the appellant has received additional consideration. The assessing officer cannot base a decision on assumption of probabilities and it has to be proved beyond doubt supported by evidence that the appellant has received additional consideration for the sale of plots over and above shown in its books of accounts.”

7.

We find that having made observations as above, the ld.

CIT(A) elaborately discussed each and every aspect which were

formed the basis by Assessing Officer for making additions. The

findings were supported by detailed reasoning and explanations

which were based on the facts and after considering the same in

the light of the relevant judicial pronouncements cited in the

impugned order, the ld. CIT(A) deleted the additions and recorded

the observations. Further, we find that out of four persons whose

10 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

statements were relied upon by the Assessing Officer, two have

discredited the statement and retracted from the same via

affidavits as submitted by the assessee during first appellate

proceedings. It is worthy to mention that the said affidavits

cannot be said to be additional evidences but the same are

supporting documents in respect of the assessee’s contention as

the affidavits submitted were not like any old document which

existed during the assessment/search proceedings but was

produced later before the appellate authorities because those

were actually acquired by the assessee later from those people

looking to the requirement of the matter. An additional evidence

will be something that was already in existence previously but

was submitted later, and this was not so in the present mater.

Therefore, it cannot be termed as an additional evidence but as a

supporting document. Further, we find that during the course of

assessment proceedings, the assessee was not provided with the

opportunity of cross-examination with the concerned persons on

whose statements reliance was placed by the Assessing Officer.

Thus, the Assessing Officer ignored the same leading to violations

of principles of Natural Justice which is unjustified in view of the

11 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others ratio laid down in the case of Andaman Timber Industries Vs CCE 281 CTR 241 (SC), wherein it was held as under:- “Not allowing assessee to cross-examine witness by Adjudication Authority through state men soft house witness were made abases impugned order amounted in serious flaw which making impugned order nullity a sit amounted to violation of principles of natural justice.”

The identical ratio was laid down in the following judicial

pronouncements: I. Commissioner of Income-tax, Central, Jaipur v. Smt. Sunita Dhadda [2018] 100 taxmann.com 525 (Rajasthan) II. Smt. Manorama Singhal Indore V/s ITO-3(2), Indore [ITA NO. 130/IND/2020] [ INDORE ITAT BENCH]

8.

We also find that during the search proceedings no

incriminating material was found from the assessee’s premises

relevant to the project Silicon City, therefore, the Assessing

Officer wrongly presumed on the basis of some letters received

from four persons that the assessee accepted large portion of Sale

Consideration on sale of land in cash and the same was not

accounted for by them. Thus, the additions were made by the

Assessing Officer without appreciating the fact that neither any

cash was found or seized nor any document relating to cash

12 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

receipts was found or seized during the search proceedings. Ld.

CIT(A) also noted the same and rightly deleted the additions

discussing the facts, submissions in the light of the relevant

judicial pronouncements. However, we are of the view that when

ld. CIT(A) had made detailed discussion on facts and recorded the

finding that no incriminating evidence material was found during

the course of search operation and also the contention of the

learned Counsel for the assessee that letters relied upon by

Assessing Officer were not made available to assessee during the

course of assessment proceedings and to the CIT(A) during the

course of appeal hearings as such on that basis, ld. CIT(A) should

have also deleted the addition of Rs.15,26,400/- for the

assessment year 2012-13 because in view of the above facts and

relevant judicial pronouncements, no addition was called for the

assessment year 2012-13 too. Therefore, we direct to delete the

same. Thus, we confirm the findings of the ld. CIT(A) in respect of

deletion of additions and reverse the order of the ld. CIT(A) in

respect of confirmation of addition of Rs.15,26,400/-.

Accordingly, departmental appeals for the assessment year 2009-

10 to 2012-13 are dismissed whereas the cross-objection filed by

the assessee is allowed.

13 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

Padamprabhu Infrastructure & Reality P. Ltd.

9.

Now, we shall take up the departmental appeals in case of

Padamprabhu Infrastructure & Reality P. Ltd. wherein the

Revenue has raised the following grounds in departmental

appeals: -

Grounds of appeal in IT(SS)A No.20/Ind/2017 (A.Y. 2011-12) “1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in deleting the addition of Rs.1,00,30,044/- made by the AO on account of undisclosed sales from Silicon City Project without appreciating the facts and evidences brought into light by the A.O. during assessment proceeding. 2. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in allowing the appeals of assessee by accepting the additional evidences of affidavits for retraction of statements of purchaser of plot in Silicon City Project. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) 3. erred in deleting the addition of Rs. 58,50,000/- made by AO on account of deemed dividend u/s2(22)(e) of the Act without appreciating the facts and evidences brought into light by the A.O. during assessment proceedings.”

Grounds of appeal in IT(SS)A No.21/Ind/2017 (A.Y. 2012-13) “1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in deleting the addition of Rs.76,06,744/- made by the AO on account of undisclosed sales from Silicon City Project without appreciating the facts and evidences brought into light by the A.O. during assessment proceeding. 2. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in allowing the appeals of assessee by accepting the additional evidences of affidavits for retraction of statements of purchaser of plot in Silicon City Project. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) 3. erred in deleting the addition of Rs.91,00,000/- made by AO on account of deemed dividend u/s2(22)(e) of the Act without appreciating the facts

14 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

and evidences brought into light by the A.O. during assessment proceedings.”

10.

Facts, in brief, are that the assessee has filed return of

income for the above assessment years declaring total income as

under:

Assessment Date of filing of return Returned Year u/s139(1) Income 2011-12 12/09/2011 Rs. 28,53,670/- 2012-13 03/09/2012 Rs. 11,20,860/-

Search and Seizure operations u/s 132 were carried out on the

business as well as residential premises of the Jhaveri Group,

Indore including the assessee along with other concerns/business

associates on 21/09/2012. Notices u/s 153A were issued to the

assessee in compliance to which the assessee filed returns of

income declaring the same total income as filed in the original

return. Notice u/s 143(2) was issued along with questionnaire

u/s 142(1), in response to which the assessee from time to time

furnished written submissions along with supporting documents.

Subsequently, the assessment order was passed by Assessing

Officer on 31/03/2015 by making following additions:

15 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

Assessment Year Particul 2011-12 2012-13 ars Returned Income Rs. 28,53,670/- Rs.11,20,860/- Add: Addition on account of Rs. 1,00,30,044/- Rs. 76,06,744/- undisclosed receipts :Addition on account of Rs. 58,50,000/- Rs. 91,00,000/- Deemed Dividend u/s 2(22)(e) Total Assessed Income Rs.1,87,33,710/- Rs.1,78,27,600/-

The Assessing Officer made the above additions on the basis of

some letters received from four people namely Shri Dinesh

Purohit, Smt. Manisha Patel, Shri Ankit Jain and Smt. Vijaya

Pawar where they have stated that they paid on money over and

above the amount for which the Registries have been done.

Ground Nos.1 & 2

11.

From above, it is clear that facts and ground nos.1 & 2 of

the case of Padamprabhu Infrastructure and Reality P Ltd. are

identical to the case of M/s Ajitnath Reality Pvt. Ltd. as also

submitted by both the parties. Ld. CIT(A) while deleting the

additions relied upon the decision in the case of M/s. Ajitnath

Reality Pvt. Ltd. wherein absolutely same issue was dealt with

and it was held by the ld. CIT(A) that no incriminating evidence

pertaining to the project Silicon City was found and seized during

the course of the search. Therefore, our above decision given in

16 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

the case of M/s Ajitnath Reality Pvt. Ltd. shall prevail in the case

of the Padamprabhu Infrastructure and Reality P Ltd. Following

the same decision above, we do not find any infirmity in the order

of the ld. CIT(A) on ground nos.1 & 2. Accordingly, ground nos.1

& 2 of the departmental appeals in case of Padamprabhu

Infrastructure and Reality P Ltd. for both the assessment years

i.e. 2011-12 & 2012-13 are dismissed.

GroundNo.3:

12.

So far as ground no.3 with regard to deletion of addition

made by AO on account of deemed dividend u/s2(22)(e) of the Act

is concerned, the facts as culled out from the record are that the

assessee co. had received unsecured loan from M/s Ajitnath

Reality Pvt. Ltd. in the assessment years 2011-12 & 2012-13. Mr.

Mukesh Jhaveri and Mr. Abhishek Jhaveri hold 50% shares each

of the assessee co. and more than 20% shares in M/s Ajitnath

Reality Pvt. Ltd. The Assessing Officer did not agree with the

contention of the assessee that the amounts received from M/s

Ajitnath Reality Pvt. Ltd. were in the nature of business receipts

and only classified as unsecured loan in the balance-sheet and

accordingly, the Assessing Officer invoked the provisions of

Section 2(22)(e) of the I.T. Act.

17 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

13.

Being aggrieved, the assessee went in appeals for both the

present assessment years before the ld. CIT(A) who deleted the

additions in the light of the decision of ITAT, Indore in the case of

Makhija Construction Co. vs. ACIT (2011) 16 taxmann.com 230 and

other relevant decisions as the assessee co. is not a registered

holder of shares of M/s Ajitnath Reality Pvt. Ltd.

14.

Now, the Revenue is in appeals for both the present

assessment years.

15.

The ld. CIT-DR relied upon the order of the Assessing

Officer. Per contra, the ld. counsel for the assessee referred and

relied on the findings of Ld. CIT(A) and submitted that the

assessee co. is not a registered holder of shares of M/s Ajitnath

Reality Pvt. Ltd., therefore, ld. CIT(A) rightly deleted the additions

for both the assessment years.

16.

We have heard the rival contentions and carefully perused

the records placed before us. We find that the ld. CIT(A) having

gone through the material available on record, submissions and

relevant judicial pronouncements deleted the additions by

observing as under:

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“There are several judicial decisions where in it has been held that the assessee must be both registered as well as beneficial shareholder of the company from whom the loan is received for applicability of section 2(22)(e). To attract the provisions of Section 2(22)(e), the payment must be to a person who is registered holder of shares. The appellant company is not a registered holder of shares of M/s Ajitnath Reality Pvt. Ltd. and therefore, the provisions of Section 2(22)(e) would not be applicable.”

17.

Before us, the Ld. CIT-DR, except placing his reliance on the

findings of the Assessing Officer, could not bring any

corroborative material on record to justify the additions made by

the Assessing Officer. We find that the additions on account of

deemed dividend u/s 2(22)(e) were not valid as the provisions of

Section 2(22)(e) did not apply in the assessee’s case as specifically

recorded by the ld. CIT(A) in the appellate order in the light of the

decision of the ITAT, Indore in case of Makhija Construction Co.

vs. ACIT (supra) wherein relying upon several decisions of Hon’ble

Supreme Court and Special Bench, it was held that if the

assessee co. is not a registered holder of shares, the provisions of

Section 2(22)(w) would not be applicable. In the instant case,

since the assessee co. is not a registered holder of shares of M/s

Ajitnath Reality Pvt. Ltd., we are of the view that ld. CIT(A) has

rightly deleted the additions following the relevant judicial

pronouncement. Therefore, we confirm the findings of the ld.

19 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

CIT(A) on this issue. Accordingly, ground no.3 raised in the

departmental appeals of Padamprabhu Infrastructure and Reality

P Ltd. are dismissed for both the present assessment years. Thus,

both the appeals filed by the department in the case of

Padamprabhu Infrastructure and Reality P Ltd. are dismissed.

M/s. Venus Enterprises

18.

Now, we shall take up the departmental appeals in case of

M/s. Venus Enterprises wherein the Revenue has raised the

following grounds in departmental appeals: -

Grounds of appeal in ITA No.127/Ind/2017 (A.Y. 2012-13) “1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in deleting the addition of Rs.9,24,40,503/- made by the AO on account of undisclosed sales from Silicon City Project without appreciating the facts and evidences brought into light by the A.O. during assessment proceeding. 2. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in allowing the appeals of assessee by accepting the additional evidences of affidavits for retraction of statements of purchaser of plot in Silicon City Project.

Grounds of appeal in ITA No.727/Ind/2018 (A.Y. 2011-12) “1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in deleting the addition of Rs.4,36,48,275/- made by the AO on account of undisclosed sales from Silicon City Project without appreciating the facts and evidences brought into light by the A.O. during assessment proceeding. 2. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in not appreciating the facts that the assessee did not make any request neither during the search/post search operation nor during the assessment proceeding to cross examine the statements

20 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

recorded on oath of the purchasers/customers of the assessee which served as the basis for framing the above mentioned addition by the Assessing Officer. 3. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) erred in not appreciating the fact that all statements of the purchasers/customers of the assessee were recorded on oath and that retraction of such duly signed statement is merely an afterthought and is not acceptable in coherence to the principle of law laid down in the case of Deepchand & Co. ACIT reported at 51 TTJ 421 (Bom.)”

19.

Facts as culled out from the record are that the assessee

had filed return of income for the above assessment years

declaring total income as follows:

Assessment Date of filing of Returned Income Year return u/s 139(1) 2011-12 07/09/2011 Rs. 29,97,040/- 2012-13 15/09/2012 Rs. 54,26,570/-

The case was selected for scrutiny through CASS and notice u/s

143(2) was issued and detailed questionnaire along with notice

u/s 142(1) was served upon the assessee. In response, the

assessee from time to time furnished written submissions along

with supporting documents. Thereafter, search and seizure

operations u/s 132 were carried out on the business as well as

residential premises of the Jhaveri Group, Indore including the

assessee firm along with other concerns/business associates on

21.09.2012. During post search enquiries, it was found that few

21 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

purchasers of plots stated that the plots were sold at higher rates

than shown in registered sale deed. Thus, on the basis of those

statements, the Assessing Officer formed reasons to believe that

the assessee firm has escaped assessment within the meaning of

section147 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Accordingly, notice u/s

148 was issued and duly served to the assessee firm. In response

to the notice, the assessee vide letter dated 11.03.2015 stated

that the return filed u/s 139(1) may be treated as return filed u/s

148 of the Act. Subsequently, the Assessing Officer u/s143(3)

r.w.s. 147 of the Income Tax Act,1961 passed assessment order

dated 25.02.2016 for AY 2011-12 and for AY 2012-13 passed

assessment order u/s 143(3) on 31.03.2015 making additions to

the returned income on account of undisclosed receipts and

assessed the total income as follows:

Assessment Returned Total Additions to Assessed Income Income Income Year 2011-12 Rs. 29,97,040/- Rs. 4,36,48,275/- Rs. 4,66,45,320/- 2012-13 Rs. 54,26,570/- Rs. 9,24,40,503/- Rs. 9,78,67,070/-

The Assessing Officer made the above additions on the basis of

some letters received from four people namely Shri Dinesh

Purohit, Smt. Manisha Patel, ShriAnkit Jain and Smt. Vijaya

22 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others

Pawar where they have stated that they paid on money over and

above the amount for which the Registries have been done.

Ground Nos.1 to 3

20.

From above, it is clear that facts and grounds of the case of

M/s. Venus Enterprises are identical to the case of M/s Ajitnath

Reality Pvt. Ltd. as also submitted by both the parties. Ld. CIT(A)

while deleting the additions relied upon the decision in the case of

M/s. Ajitnath Reality Pvt. Ltd. wherein the same issue was dealt

with and it was held by the ld. CIT(A) that no incriminating

evidence pertaining to the project Silicon City was found and

seized during the course of the search. Therefore, our above

decision given in the case of M/s Ajitnath Reality Pvt. Ltd. shall

prevail in the case of the M/s. Venus Enterprises. Following the

same decision above, we do not find any infirmity in the order of

the ld. CIT(A) on ground nos.1 to 3. Accordingly, ground nos.1 to

3 of the departmental appeals in case of M/s. Venus Enterprises

for both the assessment years i.e. 2012-13 & 2011-12 are

dismissed.

21.

Finally, all departmental appeals i.e. IT(SS)A Nos.14 to

17/Ind/2017 filed in case of M/s. Ajitnath Reality P. Ltd., IT(SS)A

23 Ajitnath Reality and others SS 14 of 2017 and others Nos.20 & 21/Ind/2017 filed in case of Padamprabhu

Infrastructure & Reality P. Ltd. and ITA No.127/Ind/2017 & ITA

No.727/Ind/2018 filed in case of Venus Enterprises are

dismissed whereas the only Cross-objection No.15/Ind/2018

filed in case of M/s. Ajitnath Reality P. Ltd. is allowed.

Order was pronounced as per Rule 34 of I.T.A.T., Rules 1963 on 26.11.2021.

Sd/- Sd/-

(MAHAVIR PRASAD) (MANISH BORAD) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER

Indore; �दनांक Dated : 26.11.2021 !vyas! Copy to: Assessee/AO/Pr. CIT/ CIT (A)/ITAT (DR)/Guard file. By order Assistant Registrar, Indore

DCIT , CENTRAL-2, INDORE vs M/S VENUS ENTERPRISES , INDORE | BharatTax