LATE NATWARBHAI HARIBHAI PATEL, (REP. BY L R TARIK N. PATEL),GANDHINAGAR vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD-3,, GANDHINAGAR

These six appeals pertain to the same assessee, involve some common issues, are filed against different orders passed by the CIT(A), Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad for different assessment years, and were heard together. As a matter of convenience, therefore, all these six appeals are being disposed of by way of this consolidated order.

We are taking up the appeal filed by the assessee for the Assessment Year 2009-10 i.e. as the lead matter and the grounds raised in this appeal are reproduced as under :-

Being aggrieved by the Assessment Order, the assessee filed appeal before the CIT(A). The CIT(A) dismissed the appeal of the assessee.

The Ld. A.R. submitted that the assessee is an individual and employed with Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) as Assistant Manager in Production Section and derives income from salary and other sources. The Ld. A.R. submitted that tax evasion petition was lodged with Income Tax Department along with copy of Banakhat dated 04.02.2009 which was allegedly notarised on 05.02.2009. The Ld. A.R. submitted that the said Banakhat was found during the course of survey in the case of Shri Bhupendra M. Trivedi and handed over to ITO, Ward-3, Gandhinagar by Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Mehsana. The said Banakhat shows , 09/Ahd/2014, 3490/Ahd/2014, 3332/Ahd/2016, 2222/Ahd/2015 & 405/Ahd/2018 AYs.2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2009-10, 2010-11 & 2011-12 respectively Page 4 of 7 consideration at Rs.41,00,000/- per bigha and the assessee paid Rs.41,00,000/- over and above the consideration stated in the final sale deed. Even survey under Section 133A was conducted on 17.09.2010 at Juna Chora Pase, Kalol, based on the contents of the tax evasion petition. The statement of the assessee was recorded on 17.09.2010 by issuing summons under Section 131(1), but his statement remained un-concluded and the assessee was allowed to go at late night. The Ld. A.R. further submitted that the assessee vide letter dated 15.11.2010 requested the Authorised Officer to complete the said statement. Ultimately, a fresh summon was issued under Section 131(1A) to appear on 22.09.2010. The assessee was told by the Assessing Officer that the said Assessing Officer was temporarily Incharge of this case. Thereafter, the ITO (Inv.), Mehsana issued summons under Section 131 on 20.12.2010 and recorded his statement on 22.12.2010. The assessee appeared in response to the said summon and his statement was recorded accordingly. The assessee vide letter dated 22.12.2010 asked for various documents such as copy of notarised Banakhat which was attached with tax evasion petition, copy of his statement was recorded on 22.10.2010. The Assessing Officer failed to give copies of these documents till completion of the assessment and also has not given complete statement (page no.6 was missing). The Ld. A.R. submitted that the assessee never signed any notarised agreement and he was shown the page containing his photo and signature which only were confirmed by him. The assessee pointed out in letter dated 22.12.2011 to the Assessing Officer that the so called Banakhat was intended for Shri Bhupendra Trivedi to obtain VISA and it was cancelled by agreement dated 19.09.2009. Inspite of the categorical denial of the contents of the notarised Banakhat accompanied to the tax evasion petition, the Assessing Officer completed the regular assessment on 27.12.2011 thereby making addition of Rs.45,50,000/- as unexplained investment. The Ld. A.R. submitted that the assessee has denied/retracted the statement made during the proceedings under Section 131(1A) of the Act. The Ld. A.R. submitted that the assessee was suffering from kidney problem and, therefore, was not in a proper mind to give his statement and, therefore, the assessee retracted the statement. The Ld. A.R. further submitted that no opportunity of cross examination was provided to the assessee to examine the Notary as well as complete statement of the assessee was not given by the Revenue. The Ld. A.R. submitted that there was no evidence with the Revenue as to on what basis the consideration was for Rs.45,00,000/- per bigha. The Ld. A.R. further submitted that no incriminating documents were found during the , 09/Ahd/2014, 3490/Ahd/2014, 3332/Ahd/2016, 2222/Ahd/2015 & 405/Ahd/2018 AYs.2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2009-10, 2010-11 & 2011-12 respectively Page 5 of 7 survey. Thus, the Ld. A.R. submitted that the assessee could have not been made to suffer by making addition of Rs.45,00,000/- as undisclosed investment.

The Ld. D.R. submitted that the additional evidence supplied by the assessee before the CIT(A) in fact supports the Revenue’s case. In fact, there is a gap between statement and retraction and the retraction should not be taken into account. The Ld. D.R. further submitted that it is not correct that the statement was not provided to the assessee. The Ld. D.R. further submitted that the notary copy of Banakhat clearly sites the actual price consideration and thus at this juncture the assessee cannot deny the same. The Ld. D.R. further submitted that empirical calculation was rightly done by the Assessing Officer and there was an evidence for making this addition.

The Ld. A.R. in rejoinder submitted that letter dated 22.02.2013 categorically states that the statement of the assessee was not at all furnished to the assessee during the assessment proceedings. In fact, the incomplete statement was given on 08.02.2013 which was immediately retracted by the assessee on 22.02.2013. The Ld. A.R. further submitted that the addition will not sustain as there was no undisclosed investment done by the assessee at any point of time. In fact, the Banakhat was an arrangement between the assessee and the party for obtaining VISA at the end of the owner of the land. Afterwards the said transaction never took place and, therefore, the addition cannot be sustained.

We have heard both the parties and perused all the relevant materials available on record. It is pertinent to note that the assessee is an employee of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited. The assessee has entered into a Banakhat with Shri Manilal Tribhovandas Trivedi and others but the same Banakhat was understanding between the parties as per the submissions of the Ld. A.R. during the hearing. The contentions of the Ld. A.R. that the consideration at Rs.41,00,000/- per bigha is exorbitant consideration and the said page or the document was never signed by the assessee at any point of time before the Notary. These facts were placed before the Assessing Officer during the assessment proceedings. The statements given by the parties were never cross-examined by the assessee at any point of time. The assessee in letter dated 22.12.2011 addressed to the Assessing Officer has given a categorical intention of the Banakhat as the same is intended for Shri Bhupendra Trivedi to obtain VISA and cancellation thereafter as per the agreement dated 19.09.2009. The , 09/Ahd/2014, 3490/Ahd/2014, 3332/Ahd/2016, 2222/Ahd/2015 & 405/Ahd/2018 AYs.2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2009-10, 2010-11 & 2011-12 respectively Page 6 of 7 notarised Banakhat was not actual document which was signed by the assessee as per the contentions of the Ld. A.R. The statement made during the proceedings under Section 131(1A) was also retracted by the assessee as the assessee was not in a proper mind to give his statement as per contentions of the Ld. A.R. After taking all these contentions of the Ld. A.R./assessee, and after perusing the documents, it is seen that the consideration per bigha amounting to Rs.41,00,000/- was never the intention of the assessee and the same was not paid by the assessee as observed by the Assessing Officer. The correct or the original consideration amount was properly placed before the Assessing Officer. These documents were never taken into consideration by the Assessing Officer as well as by the CIT(A). Merely on the basis of statement of the assessee, which was later on retracted, the Assessing Officer has made an addition which is not a correct method of making any addition. Therefore, appeal of the assessee is allowed being ITA No.1512/Ahd/2013.

In respect of A.Y. 2010-11, the grounds remain the same. A.Y. 2010-11 is identical to A.Y. 2009-10 and, therefore, is allowed.

As regards A.Y. 2011-12, the Ld. A.R. made additional statement that no co- owners were examined in the present case by the Assessing Officer. There is no evidence for adapting exorbitant price in respect of per bigha/per sq. mtr. In fact, section 50C of the Act did not entitle any value consideration in respect of the said transaction which was never finalised. As regards Short Term Capital Gain of Rs.46,000/-, the Ld. A.R. submitted that the same is presumptive basis and, therefore, should have not been added. In respect of A.Y. 2011-12 the contentions of the assessee that no co-owners were examined by the Assessing Officer appears to be correct and thus, the Assessing Officer without taking cognisance of the evidences put up before him has made addition under Section 50C of the Act. Thus, ground no.1 is allowed. Regarding Ground no.2 relating to Short Term Capital Gain, the same is on presumptive basis and, therefore, ground no.2 is allowed. Hence, is allowed.

As regards the same is related to penalty under Section 271(1)(c) of the Act. Since the quantum appeal is decided in favour of the assessee, penalty becomes infructuous. Hence, ITA No.3332/Ahd/2016 is allowed.

In the result, all the appeals of the assessee are allowed.