THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX-II vs. SHRI PANKAJ KANWAR

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ITA/151/2012HC Madhya PradeshMPHC02030152201217 January 20136 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The Tribunal upheld the decision of the CIT (Appeal) in deleting the disallowance made under Section 40A(3). The High Court, in its order, noted that both the CIT (Appeal) and the Tribunal had relied on the High Court's own judgment in Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Purshottamlal Tamrakar (270 ITR 314). In that precedent, it was held that Section 40A(3) is not applicable when a net profit rate has been applied by the Assessing Officer, as the expenses are deemed to be considered while applying the net profit rate. Applying this principle, the Court reasoned that once a net profit rate was applied by the Assessing Officer, there was no scope for further disallowance of any expenditure. Consequently, the Court found no substantial question of law arising and dismissed the appeal.

What were the facts?

The Revenue is in appeal against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) which upheld the decision of the CIT (Appeal). The case originated from a search under Section 132 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, at the Bharat Kothari Group. During the search, proprietors of various firms admitted to issuing bogus bills for iron and steel without actual sales, receiving cheques and returning cash after deducting commission. The assessee, M/s Hindustan Equipment Pvt. Ltd., had declared purchases from these 'bill providers'. The Assessing Officer disallowed 20% of cash payments for purchases and rejected the assessee's books of account, estimating 6% extra profit on purchases from the Kothari Group. The CIT (Appeal) found that all purchases were made by cheque and, having estimated profit, found no reason for further disallowance under Section 40A(3).

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Tribunal erred in deleting the disallowance made under Section 40A(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, in respect of alleged cash payments for purchases, when the CIT (Appeal) had already estimated profit at 6% on such purchases. The Revenue contended that the CIT (Appeal) and the Tribunal erred in deleting the disallowance under Section 40A(3) despite the assessee's purchases being found to be not genuine. The assessee argued that since the Assessing Officer had already rejected the books of account and estimated a net profit rate, no further disallowance was warranted. The Tribunal relied on the High Court's decision in CIT vs. Purshottamlal Tamrakar.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 132,Section 132(4),Section 143(3),Section 148,Section 40A(3)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Income Tax Appeal No.151/2012 17.01.2013 Shri R.L. Jain, learned Senior Counsel with Ms. Veena Mandlik, learned counsel for the appellant. At the outset, it has been stated by the learned Senior Counsel for the appellant that the question involved in this appeal has already been answered by this Division Bench in Income Tax Appeal No.136/2012 (The Commissioner of Income Tax-II, Indore v. M/s. Hindustan Equipment Pvt. Ltd.) decided on 10.01.2013.

Having regard to the aforesaid, this appeal is also dismissed for the reasons stated in the order dated 10.01.2013 passed in Income Tax Appeal No.136/2012. A copy of the said order be retained in this appeal also.

(Shantanu Kemkar) (M.C. Garg) Judge

Judge Pithawe RC 2 HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH; INDORE BENCH (DIVISION BENCH : HON'BLE SHRI SHANTANU KEMKAR AND HON'BLE SHRI MOOL CHAND GARG JJ.) I.T.A.No.136 of 2012 The Commissioner of Income Tax-II Aayakar Bhawan, White Church Road, Indore, M.P.

APPELLANT VERSUS M/s Hindustan Equipment Pvt. Ltd. 402, Royal Estate, 9/2 South Tukoganj, Indore,. (M.P.)

RESPONDENT ***************************************************** For Appellant : Shri R.L.Jain, learned Senior counsel with Ms. Veena Mandlik. ***************************************************** O R D E R (Passed on this 10

th day of January, 2013)

PER SHANTANU KEMKAR, J :

Heard on the question of admission. 3 This order shall also govern disposal of I.T.A.Nos.137/2012, 138/2012, 139/2012 and 140/2012 as it has been stated by the learned Senior counsel for the appellant revenue that the facts and question of law raised in all these appeals are identical. For the sake of convenience facts are taken from I.T.A.No.136/2012.

Briefly stated there was a search at Bharat Kothari Group under Section 132 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short the Act). 2. During the course of search proceedings in the statement, recorded under Section 132 (4) of the Act it was admitted by the proprietors of various firms namely M/s Nikita Steels, M/s Bharat Enterprises, M/s Maa Enterprises, M/s Harsh Enterprises, M/s Saluja Enterprises, M/s Sonam Steels and M/s Pratik Enterprises (for short the Bills providers) that they have indulged in the activity of issuing bogus bills without there being any actual sales of iron and steel. In their statements recorded and confirmed by their affidavits they further stated that they have received cheques 4 for the amount of bills and they returned the entire amount to the parties by making cash withdrawal from the banks deducting nominal commission ranging from Rs.10/- to Rs.40/- per ton iron. 3. In the enquiry conducted after the said search it was found that the respondent assessee has declared purchase of iron and steel from the aforesaid bill providers. In the circumstances on the basis of the statements and affidavits of the Bill providers, the purchases claimed by the assessee were held by the Assessing Officer to be not genuine. The Assessing Officer, after recording reasons and obtaining necessary approval issued a notice under Section 148 to the assessee and initiated the proceedings 4. The Assessing Officer completed the assessment under Section 143 (3)/148 of the Act and vide his order dated 27.12.2010 disallowed 20% of the purchase price alleged to be paid in cash in respect of alternative purchases. The Assessing Officer also rejected books of account of the assessee and estimated 6% extra profit in respect of purchases made from Kothari Group. 5 5. In the appeal the CIT (Appeal) vide order dated 05.12.2011 found that all the purchases made from Kothari Group was paid by cheque and when entire books of accounts were rejected and profit was estimated at 6% of such purchases made from Kothari Groups there was no reason or making further disallowance under Section 40A (3) in respect of alternative purchases alleged to be made. 6. In the appeal filed by the Revenue before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (for short the Tribunal) in regard to ground about deleting the disallowance made under Section 40A(3) of the Act by the CIT (Appeal) the Tribunal upheld the decision of the CIT (Appeal) in regard to the said disallowance. 7. Aggrieved by the order of CIT (A) and the Tribunal the revenue is in appeal. 8. We find that the CIT (Appeal) and the Tribunal, for deleting the said disallowance, placed reliance on the judgment of this Court in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Purshottamlal Tamrakar 270 ITR 314. We find that in the said judgment Division Bench of this 6 Court has held that Section 40A(3) is not applicable when the net profit rate was applied by the Assessing Officer and once a net profit rate is applied. The expenses are deemed to be considered while applying the net profit rate. 9. Having regard to the law laid down in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Purshottamlal Tamrakar (supra) and the fact that in the present case also net profit rate was applied we are of the view that when net profit rate was applied by the Assessing Officer there was no scope for further disallowance of any expenditure. 10. In the circumstances, in our considered view no substantial question of law arises in the matter. The appeal fails and is hereby dismissed in limine. ( SHANTANU KEMKAR ) (M.C.GARG)

JUDGE JUDGE AM.

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