KEITH BOSCO DIAS,MUMBAI vs. ACCIT-21(2), MUMBAI

Brief facts of the case are that assessee in this case is engaged in the business of manufacturing and spring balance. The Assessment in this case was reopened upon receipt of information from the sales tax Department that assessee has made bogus purchases as under :

The Income Tax Officer in this case has made 100% addition on account of bogus purchase resulting in disallowance in A.Y. 2008-09 of Rs. 6,99,096/- and in A.Y. 2009-10 of Rs. 5,35,773/-.

Upon assessees appeals learned CIT(A) confirmed the same.

Against the above order assessee is in appeals before the ITAT. I have heard learned Departmental Representative and perused the records.

Upon careful consideration I find that assessee has provided the documentary evidence for the purchase. Adverse inferences have been drawn due to the inability of the assessee to produce the suppliers. I find that in this case the sales have not been doubted nor any anomaly is noted in production or consumption ratio. It is settled law that when sales are not doubted, hundred percent disallowance for bogus purchase cannot be done. The rationale being no sales is possible without actual purchases. This proposition is supported from honourable jurisdictional High Court decision in the case of Nikunj Eximp Enterprises (in writ petition no 2860, order dt. 18.6.2014). In this case the honourable High Court has upheld hundred percent allowance for the purchases said to be bogus when sales are not doubted. However in that case all the supplies were to government agency.

In the present case the facts of the case indicate that assessee has made purchase from the grey market. Making purchases through the grey market gives the assessee savings on account of non-payment of tax and others at the expense of the exchequer. As regards the quantification of the profit element embedded in making of such bogus/unsubstantiated purchases by the assessee, I find that as held by honourable High Court of Bombay in its recent judgement in the case of principle Commissioner of income tax versus M. Haji Adam & Co. (ITA number 1004 of 2016 dated 11/2/2019 in paragraph 8 there

I respectfully following the aforesaid judgement of the honourable High Court set aside the matter to the file of the assessing officer with the direction to restrict the addition as regards the bogus purchases by bringing the gross profit rate on such bogus purchases at the same rate as that of the other genuine purchases. Needless to add the assessee should be granted adequate opportunity of being heard

In the result assessee's appeals are partly allowed.