SATYAM GUPTA ARAVEETI,PRAKASHAM DISTRICT vs. ITO, WARD-1, ONGOLE

Succinctly stated, the AO observing that the ITBA - Multiyear NMS on the Actionable Information Monitoring System (AIMS) module, revealed that the assessee during the subject year had carried out substantial financial transactions, viz., (i) cash deposits of Rs.10 lakhs or more in savings bank account: Rs.1,39,70,500/-; (ii) deposits in cash aggregating to Rs.2 lakhs or more with a banking company: Rs.2,69,33,300/-; and (iii) cash deposits of Rs.50,000/- and more: Rs.6,15,000/-, initiated proceedings under section 147 of the Act.

During the course of the assessment proceedings, the AO issued notices under section 142(1) of the Act along with questionnaires, dated 19/07/2021, 15/11/2021 and 06/12/2021, but the same were not complied with by the assessee. Accordingly, the AO was constrained to 4

The AO observed that the assessee, during the subject year, had made cash deposits of Rs. 2,43,70,500/- in his bank account with ING Vysya Bank, Giddalur Branch. As the assessee had failed to come forth with any explanation regarding the nature and source of the aforesaid cash deposits, the AO held the same as having been sourced from his unexplained money under section 69A of the Act. Accordingly, the AO, vide his order passed under section 147 r.w.s 144 r.w.s 144B of the Act, dated 26/03/2022, assessed the income of the assessee at Rs. 2,43,70,500/-.

Aggrieved, the assessee carried the matter in appeal before the CIT(A).

The assessee during the course of the hearing of the appeal submitted before the CIT(A) additional documentary evidence, viz., (i) agency letter issued to the assessee by the District Cooperative Marketing Society Ltd (DCMS Ltd); (ii) copy of the agreement between the District Cooperative Marketing Society Ltd. and the assessee; and (iii) copies of the stock register, Andhra Pradesh Government, Department of Agriculture permit slips, utilization certificates for various seeds, authorization letters and copies of bank statements. The assessee, based on the aforesaid additional evidence filed before the 5

The CIT(A), considering the additional evidence that was filed by the assessee before him, called for a remand report from the AO. In compliance, the AO submitted his remand report, dated 14/11/2024, wherein he admitted that the assessee was an agent of District Cooperative Marketing Society Ltd (DCMS Ltd), Giddalur area, Ongole, i.e., the marketing agency between the farmers and APS- C Ltd. for the supply of seeds and collection of funds. The AO submitted in his report, that though the assessee had claimed that he had collected the amounts from the farmers as an agent of DCMS Ltd., and deposited the same in his bank account, which thereafter were transferred to APS- C Ltd, but he could not substantiate the same based on supporting documentary evidence or books of accounts either maintained by him or by DCMS Ltd. Accordingly, the AO submitted that the claim of the assessee that the subject amounts were his collections as an agent of DCMS Ltd., did not merit acceptance.

The AO further stated in his report that the assessee, based on his aforesaid claim, had submitted that, as per the agreement between him and DCMS Ltd., he, as an agent, was eligible for commission @ 0.5% of the amounts transferred by him to APS- C Ltd. Also, the assessee, to support his aforesaid claim, had furnished a copy of the appointment letter as an agent issued by DCMS Ltd, wherein it was stated that he was responsible for the collection of amounts from farmers and was entitled to commission @ 0.5% of the amounts transferred to their bank for the purchase of seeds.

Also, it was stated by the AO that the assessee in the course of the remand proceedings before him had produced sale registers/purchase registers, original bills, agreement with DCMS Ltd etc. Further, it was stated by the AO that the assessee had claimed that his main activity was as that of an agent of DCMS Ltd, Giddaluru area, wherein he was supplying agricultural seeds and fertilizers received from DCMS Ltd to farmers, collecting amounts from them and transferring the amounts to DCMS Ltd and APS- C Ltd (as per the agreement), and had received commission @ 0.5% on the subject transactions. Also, the AO stated in his report that the assessee had claimed that any excess payments made would be returned to the farmers. Accordingly, it was the assessee’s claim that most of the cash deposits made in his bank accounts were the amounts that he had received from the farmers for the supply of seeds from DCMS Ltd, Giddaluru. Also, the assessee in 7

Apropos, the balance amount of cash deposits of Rs. 38,06,036/- (Rs. 2,01,14,006/- - Rs. 1,63,07,970/-), it was the assessee’s claim that he same were the sale proceeds of his business of supplying pulses (korralu) to the farmers during the subject year. It was submitted by him that, as he had not maintained any books of accounts for his aforesaid business transactions, therefore, his income may be estimated @8% of the total turnover of Rs. 38,06,036/-, which worked out at Rs. 3,04,483/-. However, the AO observing that the assessee had failed to substantiate his claim that the cash deposits of Rs.38,06,036/- (supra) were sourced from the sale proceeds of his business of supplying pulses based on any documentary evidence, thus, rejected the same and stated in his report that the amount to the said extent was sourced out of the assessee’s unexplained money under section 69A of the Act. The CIT(A), based on the remand report of the AO, concurred with his view and upheld the addition of Rs. 38,06,036/- as was added by him under section 69A of the Act.

The assessee aggrieved with the order of the CIT(A) has carried the matter in appeal before us.

We have heard the Learned Authorised Representatives of both parties, perused the orders of the authorities below and the material available on record.

Shri PSRVV Surya Rao, CA, the Learned Authorised Representative (for short, “Ld. AR”) for the assessee, at the threshold of hearing of the appeal, took us through the genesis of the controversy involved in the present case and also the additions that were initially made by the AO.

Coming to the dispute in hand, the Ld. AR submitted that the CIT(A) had grossly erred in law and facts of the case in summarily accepting the view taken by the AO in his remand report, dated 14/11/2024, and treating the cash deposits of Rs. 38,06,036/- (supra) as having been sourced out of the assessee’s unexplained money under section 69A of the Act. Elaborating on his contention, the Ld.AR submitted that as the subject cash deposits of Rs. 38.06 lakhs (approx.) were the sale proceeds of the assessee’s business of supplying pulses to the farmers, therefore, there was no justification for the authorities below to have held the same as the unexplained money of the assessee under section 69A of the Act. The Ld. AR submitted that the CIT(A) had most arbitrarily rejected the assessee’s claim that the addition in his hands was liable to be restricted only to the extent of the profit/income element embedded in the sale proceeds of Rs.38.06 lakhs (supra), which could safely be taken on an estimate basis @ 8%, i.e., 3,04,483/-. The Ld. AR to buttress his contention had drawn our attention to certain “Form of Way Bill”, dated 20/05/2012, 08/06/2012, 14/06/2012 and 28/06/2012, which apparently referred to the sale of pulses (variety Navani) by the assessee (cultivator) to various individuals/mills. The Ld.AR had based on the aforesaid documents, which, as stated by him, had been filed before the authorities below, claimed that the same substantiated the fact that the assessee, viz., Sri Satyam Gupta Araveeti, i.e., the assessee, during the subject year, had carried out the business of supply of pulses. The Ld. AR submitted that as the CIT(A) had failed to consider the claim of the assessee in the backdrop of the aforesaid documentary evidence that was available before him, therefore, the impugned addition of Rs. 38,06,036/- (supra) made by him cannot be sustained and is liable to be set aside.

Per contra, the Ld. Sr. DR relied upon the orders of the authorities below.

We have thoughtfully considered the contentions of the Learned Authorised Representatives of both parties in the backdrop of the orders of the authorities below.

The controversy involved in the present appeal lies in a narrow compass, i.e., as to whether or not the AO/CIT(A) are right in law and facts of the case in rejecting the assessee’s explanation that the cash deposits of Rs.38,06,036/- (supra) made in the assessee’s bank account were the sale proceeds of his business of supplying pulses, inter alia, for the reason that he had failed to substantiate his said claim based on any documentary evidence.

We have given thoughtful consideration, and are of the view that the copies of the Way Bills, which are stated to have been filed by the assessee before the authorities below, Page No.64 to 67 of the APB, apparently reveals that the assessee during the subject year had carried out certain transactions of sale of pulses, (i.e., Navani) to certain persons/mills both within/outside the State. In our view, the aforesaid documents to some extent inspire confidence regarding the claim of the assessee that part of the cash deposits made in his bank accounts during the subject year were sourced from his business of supplying pulses. We are of the view that, as the authorities below had not verified the aforesaid claim of the assessee in the backdrop of the evidence as is stated to be available on record, therefore, the summary rejection of his explanation cannot be endorsed on her part. We, thus, are of a firm conviction that the matter in all fairness requires to be set aside to the file of the Assessing Officer, who is directed to consider the explanation of the assessee in the backdrop of the aforesaid documentary evidence that are stated to be available on record, i.e., copies of the Way Bills evidencing the sale of pulses, i.e., Navani, by the assessee to various persons/mills both within/outside the State. Needless to say, the AO shall, in the course of the set aside proceedings, afford a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the assessee, who shall, as per the extant law, remain at liberty to substantiate his claim based on fresh documentary evidence, if any.

Resultantly, the appeal filed by the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes in terms of our aforesaid observations.

Ǔनधा[ǐरती/The Assessee : Satyam Gupta Araveeti, 5-10-58, Sri Sai Balaji Jewellers, Main Bazar, Giddalur, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh-523357. 2. राजèव/ The Revenue : Income Tax Officer, Ward-1, O/o. ITO, 8th Lane, Ramnagar, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh-523001. 3. The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, 4. ͪवभागीयĤǓतǓनͬध, आयकरअपीलȣयअͬधकरण /DR,ITAT, Hyderabad. 5. The Commissioner of Income Tax 6. गाड[फ़ाईल / Guard file