MAITREYA PLOTTERS & STRUCTURES P.LTD,PALGHAR vs. DCIT CIR 4, THANE

This appeal has been filed by the assessee against the order dated 04.11.2016 passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-3 (for short ‘the CIT(A), Thane, for the assessment year 2012-13, whereby the Ld. CIT(A) has dismissed the appeal filed by the assessee against the penalty order passed u/s 271 (1) (c) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short the ‘Act’).

The facts in brief are that, the assessee engaged in the business of dealing in agriculture and non agricultural land filed its return declaring nil income after claiming carried forward loss of Rs. 91,67,64,946/-. The AO passed the assessment order u/s 143 (3) of the Act and assessed the total loss amounting to Rs. 91,24,38,170/- after making addition of Rs. 43,26,780/- u/s 68 of the Act. During the course of assessment it was noticed that the assessee had shown current liability amounting to Rs. 7,79,66,87,108/- as booking amount. In order to verify the genuineness of the said transaction, the Assessment Year: 2012-13 AO issued notices to the parties u/s 133 (6) of the Act to the concerned parties. 35 notices were received back un-served from the postal department with the remarks ‘not known’ ‘incomplete address’ or ‘left’. The total investment shown by the said parties was Rs. 31,19,660/-. In respect of three parties, no reply was received. The total investment shown made by the said parties was Rs. 4,02,400/-. Further the assessee failed to establish creditworthiness in respect of 12 parties. The investment shown made by the said parties was Rs. 8,04,720/-. Hence, the AO asked the assessee to explain as to why the total amount of Rs. 43,26,780/- should not be treated as unexplained cash credit u/s 68 of the Act. The assessee failed to substantiate its claim to the satisfaction of the AO. Accordingly, the AO made addition of the said amount to income of the assessee u/s 68 of the Act. 3. In the first appeal, the Ld. CIT (A) confirmed the addition made by the AO. The AO initiated penalty proceedings u/s 271 (1) (c) of the Act and levied penalty of Rs. 14,03,823/- for concealing the particulars of its income. In the first appeal, the Ld. CIT (A) confirmed the penalty. Against the said action of the Ld. CIT (A), the assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal. 4. The assessee has challenged the impugned order passed by the Ld. CIT (A) on the following effective grounds:- “1. The learned CIT (Appeals) was not justified in confirming the order of the learned Dy. CIT levying the penalty of Rs. 14,03,823/- u/s 271 (1) (c) of the Act. 2. The order levying the penalty passed by the learned Dy. CIT and its confirmation by the learned CIT (Appeals) are both illegal, invalid and unjustified.”

This case was fixed for hearing on 27.08.2019. However, on the said date, when the case was called out for hearing, none appeared on behalf of the assessee. From the record, we noticed that the assessee did not appear on the last two successive dates fixed for hearing and even no application for adjournment was received. The last notice issued on 08.05.2019 has been received back un-served with the remarks ‘left’. Hence, we are of the considered Assessment Year: 2012-13 view that no fruitful purpose would be served in case the appeal is adjourn and fresh notice is issued. We accordingly, decided to dispose of the appeal on the basis of material on record after hearing the Departmental Representative (DR) and asked the Ld. DR to argue on behalf of the revenue.

The Ld. DR submitted before us that since the assessee has failed to discharge the onus of establishing the genuineness of the transactions with the alleged investors despite sufficient opportunity granted by the authorities below, the Ld. CIT (A) has rightly confirmed the addition made by the AO u/s 68 of the Act. Moreover, the assessee has not challenged the order passed by the First Appellate Authority in quantum appeal, the assessment order has become absolute. The Ld. DR further submitted that since the assessee has concealed its income by furnishing inaccurate particulars, the Ld. CIT(A) has rightly confirmed the penalty levied u/s 271 (1)(c) of the Act. In the light of the aforesaid facts, the Ld. DR submitted that there is no infirmity in the order passed by the Ld. CIT (A) to interfere with the same. 7. We have gone through the relevant record in the light of the submissions made by the Ld. DR. The Ld. CIT (A) has confirmed the penalty levied u/s 271 (1) (c) of the Act by the AO holding as under:- “(i) In This case, the initiation of penalty proceedings u/s 271(1)(c) has been discussed in para 5.1, page 4 of the assessment order and accordingly, the AO has rightly levied penalty u/s 271(1((c) for filing inaccurate particulars of income. In the assessment proceedings, the appellant failed to discharge the onus of proving the cash credit recorded in its books of account as genuine, therefore, the same is added as unexplained cash credit u/s 68 of the Act and the appellant has also not filed an appeal against the assessment order. In the penalty proceedings, in response to show cause notice dtd. 31.08.2015, no one attended, nor any written explanation has been filed, therefore, the AO levied penalty and the same is discussed from Para 5 to 7 of the penalty order. Assessment Year: 2012-13