ITO, WARD -13(1), KOLKATA, KOLKATA vs. ADHIRA VINICOM PVT. LTD., HOWRAH

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ITSSA 129/KOL/2024Status: DisposedITAT Kolkata24 February 2025AY 2013-144 pages

In favour of the assessee: the Revenue's appeal was dismissed. From the AI summary of this appeal.

AI SummaryDismissed

What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal held that the assessment year in question was unabated on the date of the search, and the time limit to issue a notice under Section 143(2) had expired. Crucially, no incriminating material was found during the search pertaining to the share capital/premium collected by the assessee. The AO's addition was based solely on the information contained in the assessee's balance sheet and the incomplete replies from subscribers. The Tribunal found that the AO lacked the jurisdiction to make additions in an unabated assessment without supporting seized incriminating material. The CIT(A) had rightly appreciated this factual matrix and followed the decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court in PCIT v. Abhisar Buildwell P. Ltd. Therefore, the Tribunal found no infirmity in the CIT(A)'s order and dismissed the Revenue's appeals. The issue of whether the addition was validly made under Section 68 in an unabated assessment without incriminating material was decided in favour of the assessee.

What were the facts?

The Revenue has filed appeals against the orders of the CIT(A) for Assessment Years (AYs) 2012-13 and 2013-14, challenging the deletion of additions made by the Assessing Officer (AO). The appeals were filed with a delay of 160 and 159 days respectively, which the Revenue attributed to administrative approvals. The Tribunal condoned this delay. The AO had made an addition of ₹5 crore under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, concerning unexplained share capital and share premium. This addition was based on information from the assessee's balance sheet and incomplete replies from subscribers to whom notices under Section 133(6) were issued. A search action under Section 133 had been conducted on the assessee's group premises on 20.11.2015, and a notice under Section 153A was issued to the assessee on 18.08.2017.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Tribunal has jurisdiction to make additions in an unabated assessment where no incriminating material was found during the search, specifically concerning unexplained share capital and share premium under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961? (Question of law and fact) Assessee's Contention: The assessee did not appear before the Tribunal, so no contentions were recorded. Revenue's Contention: The Revenue argued that the AO was justified in making the addition of ₹5 crore on account of unexplained share capital and share premium, as the information was derived from the assessee's balance sheet and the replies from subscribers were incomplete. The Revenue implicitly contended that the assessment was validly made.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 68,Section 133,Section 153A,Section 133(6),Section 143(2)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “A” BENCH, KOLKATA

Before: SHRI RAJESH KUMAR, AM & SHRI PRADIP KUMAR CHOUBEY, JM

For Respondent: Shri Subhendu Datta, DR
Hearing: 10.02.2025Pronounced: 24.02.2025

Per Rajesh Kumar, AM:

These are appeals preferred by the Revenue against the orders of the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) (hereinafter referred to as the “Ld. CIT(A)”] even dated 05.03.2024 for the AYs 2012-13 & 2013-14.

2.

At the outset, we note that there is a delay in filing the appeal by the Revenue by 160 days in A.Y. 2012-13 and 159 days in A.Y. 2013-14 for which the Revenue has filed condonation petitions. In the condonation petitions, the Revenue has stated that the delay in filing the appeal was on account of time taken in taking administrative approvals and therefore, may be condoned. After considering the rival contentions and the reasons stated in the condonation petition, we

128/KOL/2024 for A.Y. 2012-13

3.

The only issue raised by the Revenue is against the deletion of addition of ₹5 crore by the ld. CIT (A) as made by the ld. AO u/s 68 of the Act in respect of unexplained share capital and share premium.

4.

The facts in brief are that the search action u/s 133 of the Act was conducted on the business and residential premises of M/s Devkabai Velji group of cases and key personnel located at Ranchi on 20.11.2015 and subsequent dates and the case of the assessee was also covered in the search as it belonged to some group. The notice u/s 153A of the Act was issued on 18.08.2017, which was duly served upon the assessee and in compliance the assessee filed the return of income on 29.0.2017, declaring total income of ₹(-) 16,328/-. Thereafter the statutory notices were issued along with questionnaire and duly served upon the assessee. In compliance, the assessee filed various documents / details before the ld. AO from time to time. Thereafter the ld. AO framed the assessment by making addition of ₹5 crores on account of share capital/ share premium on the basis of information contained in the balance sheet of the assessee which reveals that during the instant financial year, the assessee received share capital/ share premium amounting to ₹5 crores. The ld. AO also issued notice u/s 133(6) of the Act to various subscribers and the ld. AO stated that the subscribers furnished incomplete reply.

5.

In the appellate proceedings, the ld. CIT (A) allowed the appeal of the assessee by following the decision of Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of

6.

After hearing the rival contentions and perusing the materials available on record, we find that the instant assessment year was unabated assessment on the date of search and also time limit to issue notice us/ 143(2) of the Act had also expired. We note that during the course of search no incriminating material was found qua the share capital/ share premium collected by the assessee during the impugned financial year and the ld. AO has only, on the basis of information contained in the balance sheet filed by the assessee ,initiated the enquiries and called for information from the assessee besides issuing notice u/s 133(6) of the Act to the subscribers also which were duly replied by them. However, the ld. AO noted that the replies were incomplete. In our opinion the ld. AO has no jurisdiction to make any addition(s) in an unabated assessment where there is no seized incriminating material supporting the additions. In the present case the ld. CIT (A) has rightly appreciated the factual matrix that there was no incriminating material found during the course of search and the ld. AO relied only on the documents filed by the assessee to make the additions. Accordingly, we do not find any infirmity in the order of the ld. CIT (A) which has been passed after following the decision of Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of PCIT v. Abhisar Buildwell P. Ltd. (supra). Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal of the Revenue by upholding the order of the appellate order.

129/KOL/2024 for A.Y. 2013-14

7.

The issue raised in this appeal is similar to one as decided by us in IT(SS)A No. 128/KOL/2024 for A.Y. 2012-13. Accordingly, our

8.

In the result, both the appeals of the Revenue are dismissed.

Order pronounced in the open court on 24.02.2025.

Sd/- Sd/- (PRADIP KUMAR CHOUBEY) (RAJESH KUMAR) (JUDICIAL MEMBER) (ACCOUNTANT MEMBER) Kolkata, Dated: 24.02.2025 Sudip Sarkar, Sr.PS Copy of the Order forwarded to : 1. The Appellant 2. The Respondent 3. CIT DR, ITAT, 4. 5. Guard file. BY ORDER, True Copy// Sr. Private Secretary/ Asst. Registrar Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Kolkata

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