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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, PUNE BENCH “SMC”, PUNE
Before: SHRI R.S. SYAL
आदेश / ORDER
PER R.S.SYAL, VP :
This appeal by the assessee arises out of the order passed by the CIT(A)-1, Nashik on 06-03-2017 in relation to the assessment year 2013-14.
It is a recalled matter in as much as the earlier ex parte order passed by the Tribunal on 20-06-2018 was subsequently recalled for a fresh hearing.
2 ITA No.1214/PUN/2017 Mr. Abdulkader Inayathusein Bohari
The first issue raised in this appeal is against the
confirmation of addition of Rs.10.00 lakh.
Briefly stated, the facts of the case are that the assessee is
engaged in the business of plywood and furniture goods on retail
basis. A survey action u/s.133A of the Income-tax Act, 1961
(hereinafter also called ‘the Act”) was carried out on 21-11-
2012. During the course of such survey, the assessee
surrendered an additional income of Rs.10.00 lakh on account of
unexplained expenditure on foreign trip to Iraq, Deposits in
Recurring deposit accounts, Investment in purchase of two plots,
Investment in purchase of Tavera and Tata Sumo vehicles and
certain amount spent on renovation of business premises etc.
However, at the time of filing of the return, the assessee did not
offer this income for taxation. The Assessing Officer (AO)
made the addition of Rs.10.00 lakh, which came to be echoed in
the first appeal. The assessee is aggrieved by the confirmation
of the addition.
I have heard both the sides and gone through the relevant
material on record. The assessee was subjected to survey action
u/s 133A of the Act on 21.11.2012. His statement was recorded
3 ITA No.1214/PUN/2017 Mr. Abdulkader Inayathusein Bohari
during the course of survey, whose copy has been placed at
pages 1 to 11 of the paper book. The assessee in response to
question no.13 stated that no cash book etc. was maintained by
him. From question nos. 16 to 23, the assessee admitted that he
made trip to Mecca Madina and his wife and daughter also made
trip to Iraq in June, 2012. Expenditure was stated to be
Rs.25,000/- each totaling Rs.50,000/-. He further admitted to
have opened R.D. account in the name of his minor daughter,
Ms. Nafisa. Inventory of stock was prepared by the Officers of
the Department. The assessee admitted the value of inventory at
Rs.15,34,777/-. He also admitted that he purchased two vehicles, namely, Tavera and Tata Sumo and 1/4th of the price
was contributed by him.
It is pertinent to note that the Hon’ble Supreme Court in
CIT Vs. S. Khader Khan Son (2013) 352 ITR 480 (SC) has held
that statement u/s.133A has no evidentiary value because the
Authorised officer cannot administer oath but only record a
statement. The Hon’ble Supreme Court further held that no
admission made during such statement, by itself, be made the
basis for addition. On a pertinent query, the ld. AR candidly
4 ITA No.1214/PUN/2017 Mr. Abdulkader Inayathusein Bohari
admitted that the plots referred to in the statement were, in fact,
purchased by him. He further admitted that two vehicles and
deposits in RD account etc. referred to in the statement were
assessee’s own transactions. Thus, it is manifest that the
surrender made by the assessee during the course of survey
action cannot be construed as de hors any cogent material or
based on a mere confession by the assessee unsupported by any
clinching material. The ld. AR fairly submitted that his
grievance was confined only to the extent of the addition and not
to the non-jurisdiction of the AO to make any addition based on
the surrender made by the assessee during the course of survey.
He put forth that the items of investments/expenses leading to
surrender of Rs.10.00 lakh made by the assessee were not fully
out of undisclosed sources and a part of the same was out of
disclosed sources, which should be examined by the AO before
making any addition. It is thus evident that the surrender made
by the assessee during the course of survey is not based on mere
statement, but also certain relevant evidence. However, the
explanation of the assessee in respect of such items needs to be
taken into consideration before making any addition.
Considering the totality of the facts and circumstances of the
5 ITA No.1214/PUN/2017 Mr. Abdulkader Inayathusein Bohari
case, I am of the considered opinion that the ends of justice
would meet adequately if the impugned order is set-aside and the
matter is restored to the file of AO. I order accordingly and
direct him to decide the amount includible in the assessee’s total
income, if any, pursuant to survey action after taking into
consideration the explanation to be offered by the assessee in
respect of foreign travels, investment in two plots, investment in
two vehicles, deposits made in RD account and stock inventory
etc. To the extent, the assessee satisfies the AO about the
availability of sources of such amounts, the addition should be
deleted. Needless to say, the assessee will be allowed an
opportunity of hearing in this regard before reaching any
conclusion.
The only other issue in this appeal is against the
confirmation of addition of Rs.1,20,000/- made by estimating the
household expenses.
The facts apropos this issue are that the AO observed that
the assessee did not file capital account and family details.
Considering the social status and standard of living etc., the AO
6 ITA No.1214/PUN/2017 Mr. Abdulkader Inayathusein Bohari
estimated household expenses at Rs.1,20,000/- and made
addition for the same. The ld. CIT(A) sustained the addition.
Having heard both the sides and gone through the relevant
material on record, it is seen that the estimation of household
expenses made by the AO is premised on the foundation that the
assessee did not furnish his capital account which could
demonstrate the amount of drawings. Per contra, we find that the
assessee’s capital account has been placed at page 41 of the
paper book. From such Capital account, it can be seen that the
assessee has shown Household expenses at Rs.84,000/-;
Education Fee (Nafisa) – Rs.20,000/- and Light bill at
Rs.11,920/-. In this backdrop, it becomes apparent that the view
point of the AO that the assessee did not withdraw any amount
or, at least, the information in this regard was not available, is
not correct. The amount of such withdrawals actually effected
by the assessee during year towards household expenses stands
at Rs.1,15,920/-, which is in close proximity to the amount of
estimation made by the AO at Rs.1,20,000/-. Under these
circumstances, I am satisfied that no addition on this score could
7 ITA No.1214/PUN/2017 Mr. Abdulkader Inayathusein Bohari
have been made. I, therefore, order to delete the addition of
Rs.1,20,000/-.
In the result, the appeal is partly allowed.
Order pronounced in the Open Court on 30th April, 2019.
Sd/- (R.S.SYAL) उपा�य�/ VICE PRESIDENT उपा�य� उपा�य� उपा�य�
पुणे Pune; �दनांक Dated : 30th April, 2019 सतीश
आदेश क� क� �ितिलिप ितिलिप अ�ेिषत अ�ेिषत / Copy of the Order is forwarded to : आदेश क� क� अ�ेिषत अ�ेिषत आदेश आदेश ितिलिप ितिलिप अपीलाथ� / The Appellant; 1. ��यथ� / The Respondent; 2. आयकर आयु�(अपील) / 3. The CIT (Appeals)-1, Nashik 4. The Pr. CIT-1, Nashik िवभागीय �ितिनिध, आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण, पुणे “SMC” / 5. DR ‘SMC’, ITAT, Pune; गाड� फाईल / Guard file. 6. // True copy // आदेशानुसार आदेशानुसार/ BY ORDER, आदेशानुसार आदेशानुसार
// True Copy // Senior Private Secretary आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण ,पुणे / ITAT, Pune
ITA No.1214/PUN/2017 Mr. Abdulkader Inayathusein Bohari
Date 1. Draft dictated on 30-04-2019 Sr.PS 2. Draft placed before author 30-04-2019 Sr.PS 3. Draft proposed & placed JM before the second member 4. Draft discussed/approved JM by Second Member. 5. Approved Draft comes to Sr.PS the Sr.PS/PS 6. Kept for pronouncement on Sr.PS 7. Date of uploading order Sr.PS 8. File sent to the Bench Clerk Sr.PS 9. Date on which file goes to the Head Clerk 10. Date on which file goes to the A.R. 11. Date of dispatch of Order. *