PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. M/s. Luminous and Smart Investment Consultants Pvt

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TCA/325/2023HC Madras01 October 2024Bench: Honourable Mr Justice R. SURESH KUMAR5 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court of Judicature at Madras, while acknowledging the substantial questions of law raised by the Revenue, ultimately dismissed the appeal. This decision was based on a submission by the learned Standing Counsel for the Revenue that the tax effect in the instant case was less than the monetary limit imposed for filing appeals. Consequently, the Court disposed of the appeal by dismissing it for low tax effect. The substantial questions of law were kept open for adjudication at an appropriate stage. No costs were awarded. The specific findings of the ITAT on the merits of the additions under Section 68, and the reasoning behind those findings, were not deliberated upon by the High Court due to the dismissal on the ground of low tax effect. Therefore, the operative direction was the dismissal of the appeal.

What were the facts?

The Revenue has filed a Tax Case Appeal before the High Court of Judicature at Madras, challenging an order passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai, dated July 1, 2022, in ITA No.484/2017. The appeal concerns additions made by the Assessing Officer under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which were deleted by the ITAT. The assessee is M/s. Luminous and Smart Investment Consultants Pvt Ltd. The procedural history involves the ITAT's decision which is now under challenge by the Revenue. The tax effect in this appeal is stated to be below the monetary limit prescribed for filing appeals.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide nine substantial questions of law, all relating to the correctness of the ITAT's deletion of additions made under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The primary questions revolve around whether the ITAT erred in holding that the assessee discharged its onus by providing the identity and bank account particulars of creditors, and whether the transactions were genuine. The Revenue argued that the ITAT failed to appreciate that the transactions were pre-arranged, sham, and conducted through shell companies. It also contended that the ITAT disregarded enquiries conducted at Kolkata and the confession of an entry operator, Shri Sandeep Kumar Sethia, which proved the contributions from Kolkata entry operators were bogus. The Revenue further questioned the ITAT's reliance on certain High Court decisions and its failure to consider the principles laid down by the Supreme Court and Madras High Court regarding the discharge of onus in cases of bogus entries subsequent to departmental investigations. The Revenue also argued that the ITAT disregarded concurrent findings of lower authorities without reason. The ITAT's reasoning for deleting the additions was that the assessee had provided the name and identity of creditors along with bank account particulars, thereby discharging the onus.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 68,Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.No.325 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 01.10.2024 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.SURESH KUMAR AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN Tax Case Appeal No.325 of 2023 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax Corporate Ward-1(1), Nungambakkam Chennai 600 034. ... Appellant Vs. M/s.Luminous and Smart Investment Consultants Pvt Ltd., No.59, New No.111 6th Floor, Kalakshetra Salai, Lattice Bridge Road Adyar, Chennai 600 041. PAN : AABCL 6950C ... Respondent ----- Tax Case Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, dated 01.07.2022 made in ITA No.484/2017. For Appellant : Mrs.V.Pushpa Senior Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.G.Baskar https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.No.325 of 2023 J U D G M E N T (Delivered by R.SURESH KUMAR, J.) This Tax Case Appeal has been filed by the Revenue calling in question the correctness of the order passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai raising the following substantial question of law: 1. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law the ITAT is correct in deleting the addition made u/s. 68 of the Act on the ground that when the assessee has provided the name and identity of the creditors together with the particulars of bank account, the onus is discharged and the transactions are genuine? 2. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law the ITAT is correct in deleting the addition made us. 68 of the Act without appreciating the fact that the transaction was pre-arranged, as well as sham and was carried out through paper/shell companies? 3. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law the ITAT is correct in failing to appreciate that the onus of burden stands shifted on the assessee when the enquiries conducted at Kolkata and confession of the entry operator, Shri Sandeep Kumar Sethia has disapproved the claims of the assessee and proves that the contribution from the Kolkata entry operators are bogus? 4. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law the ITAT is correct in relying on the decision of the Hon'ble Madras High Court in the case of M/s. BR Petrochem 84 CCH https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.No.325 of 2023 128 and still grant relief, when in reality, that decision is in favour of Revenue? 5. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law the ITAT is correct in its averment that the assessing officer had not negated the evidences filed by the assessee, when it is a proven fact that enquiriesconducted by the Investigation Unit at Kolkata and the confession of the entry operator had negated the claims of the assessee? 6. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law the ITAT in correct in failing to take cognizance of the enquiries and its aftermath conducted by the Investigation Unit at Kolkata and merely relying on the explanation of the Director of the company, which cannot be termed as a gospel truth? 7. Whether on the facts and of the case and in law the ITAT is correct in granting relief to the assessee without deliberating on the inapplicability of the decision of the Delhi High Court in the case of Riddhi Promoters P Ltd Vs. CIT 377 ITR 641 (Del) which was relied by this Ld. CIT(A) in his order and when the facts of the case and question of law are exactly similar to that of the case of the assessee? 8. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law the ITAT is correct in failing to appreciate the principle laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of PCIT(Central) Vs. NRA Iron and Steel Ltd 412 ITR 161 (2019) (SC) and that of the Hon'ble Madras High Court in the case of CIT Vs. Manish D Jain (HUF) (2020) 122 taxmann.com 180 (Madras) which had laid down the principles and methodology on the aspect of discharge of onus of proof in case of bogus https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.No.325 of 2023 entries subsequent to the investigation conducted by the Department? 9. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law the ITAT is correct in disregarding the concurrent findings of two lower authoritie without adducing any reason? 2. It is brought to our notice by the learned Standing Counsel for the appellant Revenue that in the instant case, the tax effect is said to be less than the monetary limit imposed and therefore, the appeal filed by the Revenue can be disposed of, keeping the substantial questions of law raised in this appeal open for adjudication at a later point of time. 3. Recording the said submission, this Tax Case Appeal is dismissed for low tax effect, keeping open the substantial questions of law for adjudication at appropriate stage. No costs. (R.S.K.,J.) (C.S.N.,J.) 01.10.2024 NCS : Yes/No Index : Yes/No KST To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Chennai. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.No.325 of 2023 R.SURESH KUMAR, J. AND C.SARAVANAN, J. KST T.C.A.No.325 of 2023 01.10.2024 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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