ITO - 19 (2)(3), MUMBAI vs. MEHTA CONSTRUCTION, MUMBAI

The only issue in these appeals of Revenue is against the order of CIT(A) confirming the action made by the AO by applying the profit rate at the rate of 12.5% of the bogus purchases. The facts and circumstances are exactly identical in both these appeals in & 6994/Mum/2018 except quantum, hence, we will take the facts from ITA No.6993/Mum/2018 and decide the issue.

Briefly stated facts are that the assessee engaged in the business of Iron and steel. The AO received information from DGIT (Investigation), who in turn received information from Sales Tax Department, Mumbai that the assessee has made purchases from hawala parties, as listed in hawala dealers by the Maharashtra Sales Tax Department who are providing bogus bills of purchase amounting to ₹62,53,711/- as admitted by 3 | P a g e ITA Nos. 6993 & 6994/Mum/2018 Mahavir Pukhraj Chhajed these hawala dealers in their deposition before the authorities. The same reads as under: - Sl Name of party Amount No.

Ujjwal Sales Corporation 11,18,181 2. Krishna steel Industries 10,66,723 3. Kanak Metal corporation 10,95,757 4. Vinayak Sales corporation 12,93,755 5. Rajeshwari metal Industries 16,79,295 Total 62,53,711 4. During the course of assessment proceedings and during appellate proceedings, the assessee submitted all the documentary evidences such as inward register, stock register, payment received against such sales, receipt of material purchases, account payee cheque. According to the AO, the assessee failed to establish the genuineness of the purchase and accordingly, he made addition of unproved purchases at 12.5% to ₹7,81,714/- to the return income of the assessee. Aggrieved, assessee preferred the appeal before CIT(A), who restricted the disallowance at 12.5% of the bogus purchases by observing in para as under: - “7.8 Coming to the addition made, the Hon'ble ITAT, Ahmedabad 'C' Bench in the case of Vijay Proteins Ltd. Vs ACT 58 lTD 0428 held that in similar circumstances, 25% of the purchase price accounted through fictious invoices has to be disallowed. The goods must have been received from other parties. The likelihood 4 | P a g e & 6994/Mum/2018 Mahavir Pukhraj Chhajed of the purchase price of these alleged purchases being inflated could not be ruled out and therefore the Hon'ble Nigh Court has upheld the decision of CIT (A) and the ITAT disallowing 25% of the payments made to such parties. The Hon'ble High Court of Gujrat in the case of CIT vs Simit P. Sheth 365 ITR 0451 held that once the sale is accepted by the Assessing Officer, the very basis of purchases could not be questioned. Not the entire purchase price could be disallowed but only the profit element embedded in such purchases could be added to the income of the assessee. The estimation varies with the nature of business and no uniform yardstick could be adoption. The Ld.AO has estimated this profit at 12.5%. As the purchases could not be established as genuine, the estimation made by the Ld.AO of 12.5% of the alleged bogus purchases is confirmed. However, the Ld.AO is directed to allow the GP already declared by the assessee on these alleged bogus purchases. These grounds of appeal are Partly Allowed.”