BABASAHEB KONDIRAM DONGRE,AURANGABAD vs. INCOME-TAX OFFICER, WARD - 1(2), AURANGABAD

This is an appeal filed by the assessee directed against the order of ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-1, Aurangabad [‘the CIT(A)’] dated 17.08.2018 for the assessment year 2009-10 confirming the levy of penalty u/s 271(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (‘the Act’).

Briefly, the facts of the case are that the appellant is an individual and no regular return of income was filed. Subsequently, Rs.14,16,500/- in savings bank accounts during the financial year 2008-09 relevant to the assessment year 2009-10, the Assessing Officer formed an opinion that the income had escaped assessment to tax and, accordingly, issued notice u/s 148 of the Act. In response to the notice u/s 148, the return of income was filed on 18.07.2016 declaring total income of Rs.1,43,430/-. Against the said return of income, the assessment was completed by the Income Tax Officer, Ward-1(2), Aurangabad (‘the Assessing Officer’) vide order dated 25.11.2016 passed u/s 143(3) r.w.s. 147 of the Act at total income of Rs.4,85,930/-. While doing so, the Assessing Officer made addition of Rs.3,42,500/- being the unexplained cash deposits in the bank accounts on the ground that the appellant had failed to explain the source for cash deposits made in the bank accounts. The Assessing Officer also initiated penalty proceedings for both the limbs i.e. concealment of particulars of income as well as furnishing of inaccurate particulars of income u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act. In response to the show-cause notice, the appellant filed explanation stating that the cash deposits were made, out from the proceeds of agricultural produce etc and assessee is neither guilty of concealment of particulars of income nor furnishing inaccurate particulars of income. The Assessing Officer had rejected the said explanation of the assessee and proceeded with levy of penalty of Rs.64,662/- u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act by holding that the appellant is guilty of concealment of particulars of income. Even on appeal before the ld. CIT(A), the ld. CIT(A) confirmed the levy of penalty u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act. 3. Being aggrieved, the appellant is in appeal before us in the present appeal. 4. When the appeal was called on, none appeared on behalf of the appellant-assessee despite due service of notice of hearing. Therefore, we proceed to dispose of this appeal after hearing the ld. Sr. DR. 5. We heard the ld. Sr. DR and perused the material on record. The issue in the present appeal relates to the levy of penalty of Rs.64,662/- u/s 271(1)(c) made on the addition of Rs.3,42,500/- on account of unexplained cash deposits in savings bank account of the appellant. On perusal of the assessment order, it would reveal that the Assessing Officer had initiated penalty proceedings for both the limbs i.e. concealment of particulars of income as well as furnishing