CINDRELLA POLYMERS PRIVATE LIMITED,NEW DELHI vs. DCIT, CENTRAL CIRCLE-28, NEW DELHI
What did the Tribunal hold?
The Tribunal held that the satisfaction note recorded by the Assessing Officer for initiating proceedings under Section 153C must clearly state that the seized material has a 'bearing' on the determination of the assessee's total taxable income. Relying on a High Court judgment, the Tribunal found this requirement was not met.
What were the facts?
The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) heard appeals concerning assessment years 2016-17 and 2017-18. The assessments were framed under Section 153C of the Income Tax Act, following a search in another group where alleged incriminating material against the assessee was found.
What were the issues?
The primary issue was whether the satisfaction note recorded by the Assessing Officer for initiating proceedings under Section 153C sufficiently indicated that the seized material had a bearing on the determination of the assessee's total income.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH: ‘F’ NEW DELHI
Before: SHRI SATBEER SINGH GODARA & SHRI MANISH AGARWAL
IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, DELHI BENCH: ‘F’ NEW DELHI BEFORE SHRI SATBEER SINGH GODARA, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI MANISH AGARWAL, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA Nos.1171 & 1172/Del/2026 Assessment Years: 2016-17 & 2017-18 M/s. Cindrella Polymers Pvt. Vs. DCIT, Ltd., Central Circle-28, BT-37, First Floor, Delhi Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi- 110 088 PAN: AACCC3325M (Appellant) (Respondent) Assessee by Sh. Sumit Lal Chandani, Adv. Sh. Shivam Yadav, Adv. Ms. Ananya Kapoor, Adv. Department by Sh. K. Hauthang, CIT(DR) Date of hearing 20.08.2026 Date of pronouncement 10.09.2026 ORDER PER SATBEER SINGH GODARA, JM These assessee’s twin appeals ITA Nos. 1171 & 1172/Del/2026 for assessment years 2016-17 and 2017-18, arise against the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-25 [in short, the “CIT(A)”], New Delhi’s orders, both dated 13.11.2025, having DINs and orders no. ITBA/APL/M/250/2025-26/1082567034(1) and
ITA Nos.1171 & 1172/Del/2026
1082566745(1), involving proceedings under section 153C of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’). Heard both the parties. Case file perused. 2. It emerges during the course of hearing that the assessee/appellant has raised its first and foremost legal ground/argument challenging both the impugned section 153C r.w.s. 143(3) assessments framed by the learned Assessing Officer and upheld in the lower appellate discussion(s). We advert to the basic relevant facts. 3. There is hardly any dispute between the parties that the learned departmental authorities had carried out search in issue in M/s. Alankit Group on 18.10.2019 wherein it is alleged to have come across the corresponding incriminating material against the assessee as well. There is further no issue between the parties that the assessee’s jurisdictional Assessing Officer; other than the searched party’s Assessing Officer, recorded his section 153C common satisfaction in its case relating to assessment years 2015- 16 and 2016-17 before us. Learned counsel has duly placed the same on record. A perusal thereof indicates that the learned Assessing Officer nowhere made it clear in the impugned
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ITA Nos.1171 & 1172/Del/2026
satisfaction note that the alleged incriminating material sought to be proceeded against the assessee had a “bearing” on determination of its total income in all these assessment years. 4. Learned CIT(DR) at this stage vehemently supports the impugned satisfaction. His case is that it is nowhere mandatory for the Assessing Officer to specifically incorporate the word “bearing” on the determination of the assessee’s taxable income in such a satisfaction note u/s 153C of the Act. 5. We find no merit in the Revenue’s foregoing vehement objections as the instant issue stands squarely settled in the assessee’s favour and against the department going by Saksham Commodities Ltd. Vs. ITO (2024) 464 ITR 1 (Delhi)(HC) wherein their lordships have made it clear that the relevant satisfaction note must make it clear that the seized material sought to be used against the assessee indeed has a “bearing” of determination of its total taxable income. We thus accept the assessee’s instant first and foremost legal ground/argument to quash these twin section 153C assessments in very terms. All other pleadings on merits between the parties stand rendered academic.
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ITA Nos.1171 & 1172/Del/2026
These assessee’s twin appeals ITA Nos.1171 & 1172/Del/2026 are allowed in above terms. A copy of this common order be placed in the respective case files. Order pronounced in the open court on 10th September, 2026 Sd/- Sd/- (MANISH AGARWAL) (SATBEER SINGH GODARA) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER Dated: 10th September, 2026. RK/- Copy forwarded to: 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT(A) 5. DR Asst. Registrar, ITAT, New Delhi
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More judgments on Section 153C
- Neepaben Sunnybhai Motwani, Rajkot vs Income Tax Officer, RajkotITA 875/RJT/2026[2021-22]Status: Disposed19 Oct 2026AY 2021-22
- Neepaben Sunnybhai Motwani, Rajkot vs The Income Tax Officer, RajkotITA 874/RJT/2026[2020-21]Status: Disposed19 Oct 2026AY 2020-21
- Venish Vinodray Lalani, Rajkot vs Income Tax Officer, MorbiITA 197/RJT/2026[2019-20]Status: Disposed19 Oct 2026AY 2019-20
- Ajay Singh, Kota vs DCIT, Central Circle, KotaITA 495/JPR/2026[2016-17]Status: Disposed13 Oct 2026AY 2016-17
- Dineshkumar Chhaganlal Manavadaria, Junagadh vs ITO Ward 1, JunagadhITA 837/RJT/2025[2020-21]Status: Disposed9 Oct 2026AY 2020-21
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