ACIT CENT. CIR 6(4), MUMBAI vs. JUVENTUS ESTATE LTD, MUMBAI

These are five appeals filed by the Deputy Commissioner of income tax central circle – 6 (4), Mumbai (the learned AO) in case of one assessee Juventus estates Ltd, New Delhi for assessment year 2011 –.0 12, 2012 – 13, 2013 – 14 2014 – 15 and 2017 – 18.

Briefly stated the facts shows that assessee filed original return of income on 24/9/2011 declaring loss of ₹ 115,515/–. Search was carried out in the case of India Bulls group on 13/7/2016 and the case of the assessee company was also centralized. Therefore notice u/s 153A was issued on 25/7/2017 in response to which the assessee filed return of income on 12/8/2017 declaring a net loss of ₹ 115,515/– on to that the assessment order was passed u/s 143 (3) on 31/12/2018 assessing the total income of the assessee at a loss of ₹ 35,515.

The only issue involved in this appeal is the as per balance-sheet submitted by the assessee it has earned interest income of ₹ 5,492,847 and has also incurred the interest expenditure of ₹ 50,585,023/– both these income and expenses have been charged to the inventory on net basis. However, in the return of income the assessee has shown interest income of ₹ 5,492,847 u/s 56 of the

The learned AO further found that during search action u/s 132 of the act various loose papers on pen drive were found and seized. Statement u/s 132 (4) of the act was recorded on the seized material and it was found that same were not recorded in the regular books of accounts. Assessee was asked to explain the source of such cash expenditure. Assessee submitted that before the settlement commission in the group cases the above expenditure have been owned and same have been disclosed therefore no separate addition is required to be made in the case of the assessee. The learned assessing officer rejected the same and found that unexplained money u/s 69A of the act has been used to the extent of ₹ 80,000. Accordingly, he made the addition. The assessment order u/s 143 (3) read with Section 153A of

The assessee challenged the same before the learned CIT – A. The first contention of the assessee is that the learned assessing officer should not have disturbed the valuation of the inventory for the reason that there is no incriminating material found during the course of search with respect to the above addition/adjustment the learned assessing officer could not have incurred the assessment for impugned assessment year 2011 – 12 whereas the search was carried out on 13/7/2016 and therefore the impugned assessment year is concluded assessment year. This could have been adjusted only on the basis of the incriminating material found during the course of search. It was also stated that with respect to the above adjustment in the closing inventory made by the learned assessing officer there is no material available/found during the course of search. The learned CIT – A following the decision of the Honourable Supreme Court in case of where the continental warehousing Corporation is Ltd 374 ITR 645 and the decision of the Honourable Supreme Court in case of Sinhgad technical education society accepted the contention of the assessee and allowed the same. He also dealt with this issue on the merit of the case and wide paragraph number 6.3 he deleted the adjustment to the closing inventory because the learned assessing officer has not given any reason as to why the net interest expenses not allowable as an expenditure as according to him the interest paid on loan utilized for

The learned AO aggrieved with the above order has preferred this appeal. The learned departmental representative vehemently submitted that that issue involved in this case is whether the interest expenditure can be allowed as Under the head income from business or profession or under the head income from other sources. And whether the said interest expenditure can be claimed as cost of inventory. However as per ground number 3 the learned departmental representative submitted that the learned and CIT – A wrongly applied the decision of continental warehousing Corporation Ltd in 58 taxmann.com 78 to the facts of the assessee in ignorance of the decision of another decision of the Honourable Bombay High Court in case of CIT versus Murli Agro products Ltd 49 taxmann.com 172. He extensively referred to the paragraph number 11 and 12 of the decision wherein it has been held that even the material

The learned authorized representative vehemently supported the order of the learned CIT – A on the issue that there is no incriminating material found during the course of search and therefore the adjustment of closing value of the inventory could not have been made in the case of the assessee in absence of any incriminating material found during the course of search. He further stated that now the decision has been rendered of the Honourable Supreme Court where in Sinhgad technical education society the Honourable Supreme Court has categorically held that without incriminating material found during the course of search, the concluded assessment cannot be tempered with. He further submitted that now decision of the Honourable Supreme Court will cover the issue in favour of the assessee.

We have carefully considered the rival contention and perused the orders of the lower authorities. On reading of the assessment order, we do not find any material which was unearthed during the course of search on 13/7/2016 related to the adjustment made by the learned assessing officer with respect to the adjustment in the closing inventory of the assessee. Now it has been fairly concluded by the Honourable Supreme Court that without reference to incriminating material seized during search, the concluded assessment cannot be enhanced. Therefore ground number 1 and 3, 4 of the appeal of learned assessing officer are dismissed.

As ground number 2 is on the merits of the 11 is of net interest expenditure of ₹ 45,092,176 as cost of inventory is merely an academic in view of our decision in holding that there is no incriminating material with respect to the above adjustment, therefore there is no requirement of going into the merits of the addition. Therefore, ground number 2 is dismissed.

In the result ITA number 1423/M/2022 filed by the learned assessing officer for assessment year 2011 – 12 is dismissed.

ITA number 1436/M/2022 filed by the learned assessing officer against the same appellate order passed by the learned CIT – A wherein ground number 1, 2,4 & 5 are

Ground number 3 is with respect to the addition of differential interest income of ₹ 190,799 whereas the in trust income offered in the return of income is only ₹ 6,012,515 whereas as per the form 26AS the same was shown at ₹ 6,203,314. We also find that with respect to the above addition was found during the course of assessment proceedings and the same was made only on the issue of 3 verification of form number 26AS. Therefore, for the same reasoning given by us that concluded assessment can only be tinkered with incriminating material found during the course of search. Same is absent with respect to this addition. Accordingly, ground number 3 of the appeal is dismissed.

Ground number 6 – 8 is with respect to the addition u/s 69A of ₹ 42,000/– which is identical to ground of appeal for assessment year 2011 – 12, wherein it has been held that the above sum has been included in the settlement petition filed by the group before the settlement commission and has also been included in the disclosure. Therefore, same amount has already been taxed in the hence of group entities, it would amount to double addition, therefore, following the reasoning given by us for assessment year 2011 – 12 in the appeal of the learned AO, for the similar reasons ground number 6 – 8 of the appeal are dismissed.

Accordingly, ITA number 1436/M/2022 filed by the learned assessing officer for assessment year 2012 – 13 is dismissed.

ITA number 2377/M/2021 is filed by the assessing officer for assessment year 2013 – 14 wherein ground number 1 – 47 with respect to the claim of the interest expenditure and adjustment in value of the closing stock inventory. This ground is identical to the appeals of the learned assessing officer for assessment year 2011 – 12 and 2012 – 13 wherein we have held that in the concluded assessment, adjustment/addition can only be made on the basis of incriminating material found during the course of search. In the present case the return of income was filed

Accordingly ITA number 2377/M/2021 for assessment year 2013 – 14 filed by the learned assessing officer is dismissed.

ITA number 1424/M/2022 is filed by the learned assessing officer for assessment year 2014 – 15 against the order of the learned CIT – A – 54, Mumbai who passed an consolidated order for assessment year 2011 – 12 to 2016 – 17.

In the present case the return of income was filed on 27/11/2014 whereas the search took place on 13/7/2016, therefore, assessment year 2014 – 15 was a concluded assessment at the time of search.

Ground number 1 – 4 of the appeal are with respect to the adjustment of interest expenditure in the closing value of the inventory by a sum of ₹ 32,730,007/–. This ground is identical to the ground of appeal of the learned assessing officer in earlier assessment year i.e. AYs 2011-12 to 20 13-14, wherein we have dismissed this ground of appeal because of the reason that there is no incriminating method found during the course of search with respect to the above addition. There is no change in the facts and circumstances of the case and no incriminating material has been shown before us. Therefore, following reasoning given by us for those appeals, we also hold that for this year too, there is no incriminating material found during the course of search and therefore such adjustment could not have been made by the learned assessing officer, which is been rightly deleted by the learned CIT – A, therefore, we confirm the order of the learned CIT – A and dismiss ground number 1 – 4 of the appeal.

Accordingly ITA number 1424/M/2022 filed by the learned assessing officer for assessment year 2014 – 15 is dismissed.

ITA number 2379/M/2021 is filed by the learned assessing officer for assessment year 2017 – 18 against the order passed by the learned CIT – A – 54, Mumbai (the learned CIT – A) dated 20/9/2021 wherein the learned AO is aggrieved that the interest income comprised of interest received from fixed deposit which is rightly considered by the learned assessing officer Under the head income from other sources has been allowed by the learned CIT – A to be considered as taxable Under the head income from business and profession. The learned assessing officer is further aggrieved that appellate authority failed to appreciate the fact that the assessee failed to substantiate with documentary evidence the business expediency of the loan given from which interest expenses was earned and therefore the same is allowable u/s 57 of the income tax act but not u/s 36 (1) (iii) of the act.

During the course of assessment proceedings the learned assessing officer noted that assessee has earned interest income of ₹ 11,525,992 which is offered to tax as business income. The AO questioned that why the above income should not be taxed Under the head income from other sources. The assessee submitted that a sum of ₹ 79,241/– is already offered to tax u/s 56 of the act. It was stated that the balance interest income of ₹ 11,446,751/– was rightly offered to tax u/s 28 of the act because the above income was derived from the fixed deposits made in the normal course of its business and has absolute commercial expediency while doing so. The learned assessing officer disagreed with argument of the assessee and held that with respect to the interest on income tax refund, the same has already been offered to tax Under income from other sources. However interest income from fixed deposit cannot be treated as income from the business accordingly, interest income of Rs 115,25,992/– was the characterized as income from other sources. It was further noted that assessee has incurred interest expenditure of ₹ 48,806,022 which was claimed by the assessee is a

Assessee preferred appeal before the learned CIT – A held that the appellant has explained that the assessee company is following the percentage completion method of accounting and in the assessment year 2011 – 12 the interest expenditure was included in work in progress as per accounting standard issued by the Institute of chartered accountants of India. During the year the assessee company has paid interest on loan taken for its real estate project and as per the accounting standard the appellant company has charged interest on loan to profit and loss account as the development activities was interrupted. He further looked at accounting standard 16 and held that in case of the assessee, the appeal the end of financial year 2010 – 11 the interest cost has been

The learned assessing officer is aggrieved with the same. The learned departmental representative vehemently submitted that the assessing officer has considered the interest on fixed deposit as income from other sources whereas the assessee is claiming business income. The learned CIT – A in paragraph number 5.3 has not given any reason why the fixed deposit interest is to be considered as business income. With respect to the granting of 11/assessee of interest expenditure Under the head business income he stated that onus is on the assessee to prove that such expenditure is allowable

The learned departmental representative also referred to the paper book filed by the assessee and referred to page number 63 of the paper book to show that only revenue from operation and by the assessee is ₹ 550 lakhs which is merely income from advisory services as per note number 24. He further referred to note number 25 of the balance- sheet to show that assessee has no other income except interest on fixed deposits. He therefore submitted that there is no business activity carried on by the assessee, therefore there cannot be any business income classified being interest received from fixed deposit receipts. He further referred to the fact that for assessment year 2011 – 12 onwards also assessee did not have any business activity for last 5 years. He further referred to note number 12 and not number 13 and 2 show that as on 31st of March 2017 the assessee does not have any investment. Note number 12 also shows that except the borrowing cost capitalized in the inventory there is no other adjustment. He further referred to the cash flow statement and submitted that there is no business activity carried burden by the assessee and therefore there cannot be any claim of business being carried out by the assessee. Accordingly the order of the learned CIT – A holding that interest on fixed deposit receipt should be

The learned authorized representative referred to page number 80 of the paper book to show that as per note number 19 assessee has borrowed debentures to the extent of Rs. 1,09,68,000 930,000/– which were issued in the year ended on 31 March 2009. He further referred to the annual accounts for financial year 2012 – 13 and submitted that the project court started in financial year 2012 – 13 and because of the legal dispute, the funds were kept in the fixed deposit receipt. He referred to the agreement dated 25th day of August 2016 where the assessee is one of the party for development of group housing colony. Therefore, when the interest expenditure on the debenture is considered as business expenditure, the interest on fixed deposit receipt should also be considered as business income. It was stated that the order passed by the learned CIT – A is correct.

The learned departmental representative vehemently opposed the above submission and stated that the funds kept in the fixed deposit receipts are the surplus funds and therefore, interest arising from that cannot be considered as business income.

We have carefully considered the rival contention and perused the orders of the lower authorities. We find that the assessee was questioned on this issue during the course of assessment proceedings which were replied by

As ground number 5 is consequential in nature, same is also restored to the file of the learned assessing officer.

In the result appeal filed by the learned assessing officer for assessment year 2017 – 18 is allowed for statistical purposes.

In the result appeal of the learned assessing officer for assessment year 2011 – 12 to 2014-15 are dismissed and for assessment year 2017 – 18 is allowed for statistical purposes. Accordingly all the 5 appeals are disposed of by this common order.