ACIT, CENTRAL CIRCLE-3, PATNA, PATNA vs. SMT. SIPRA GUPTA, PATNA

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ITA 71/PAT/2023Status: HeardITAT Patna09 December 2025AY 2017-1811 pages
AI SummaryPartly Allowed

What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal held that the CIT(A)'s order quashing the reopening notice was cryptic and unreasoned. The Tribunal found that the AO had sufficient material to reopen the assessment, specifically the large cash deposits during demonetization, and therefore, set aside the CIT(A)'s order on this issue, upholding the reopening. Regarding the deletion of the addition on merits, the Tribunal upheld the CIT(A)'s decision to delete the addition of ₹1,12,30,000/-. The Tribunal reasoned that the cash deposits represented sales from the assessee's FMCG business, which are largely in cash, and that the AO's addition was based on guesswork. Furthermore, the Tribunal noted that invoking Section 69A was incorrect as the transactions were recorded in the assessee's books of account. The Tribunal also observed that making the addition would lead to double taxation. Consequently, the Revenue's appeal on this issue was dismissed. The assessee's Cross Objection challenging the upholding of reopening was dismissed, and the ground supporting the deletion of addition was rendered infructuous.

What were the facts?

The assessee, Smt. Sipra Gupta, is challenging an order of the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) for Assessment Year 2017-18. The Revenue has filed an appeal against the same order, and the assessee has filed a Cross Objection. The primary dispute revolves around the reopening of assessment under Section 147 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, initiated by the Assessing Officer (AO) due to substantial cash deposits of ₹1,12,30,000/- (later revised to ₹1,21,63,000/-) made in the assessee's bank account during the demonetization period (November 9, 2016, to December 31, 2016). The AO had added this amount to the assessee's income. The CIT(A) quashed the notice under Section 148, leading to the Revenue's appeal.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Assessing Officer had valid reasons to believe that income had escaped assessment, justifying the reopening of the assessment under Section 147 of the Income Tax Act, 1961? The Revenue argued that the AO had sufficient material, including large cash deposits during demonetization, to reopen the case. The assessee contended that the AO lacked information to form a belief of escapement of income and that the reopening was mechanical. The assessee relied on various case laws including Sunita Jain Vs. ITO, CIT Vs. S. Goyanka Lime & Chemical Ltd., and Pr. CIT Vs. RMG Polyvinyle. 2. Whether the addition of ₹1,12,30,000/- (representing cash deposits during demonetization) made by the AO on account of cash sales was justified, or if the deletion by the CIT(A) was correct? The Revenue argued for the addition, while the assessee contended that the cash deposits represented accumulated cash from business sales and that the CIT(A) correctly deleted the addition. The Tribunal also considered the applicability of Section 69A of the Act.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 148,Section 147,Section 143(3),Section 69A,Section 68

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “PATNA” BENCH, PATNA

Before: SHRI DUVVURU RL REDDY, VP & SHRI RAJESH KUMAR, AM

For Appellant: Shri A.K. Rastogi &, Shri Rakesh Kumar, ARs
For Respondent: Shri Md. AH Chowdhary, DR
Hearing: 24.11.2025Pronounced: 09.12.2025

Heard together (2 matters)

ITA No.71/PAT/2023
CO No.1/PAT/2023

Read from the judgment's own cause title. This page is filed under one of them.

O R D E R Per Rajesh Kumar, AM:

The appeal of the Revenue and the CO of the assessee are arising against the order of the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals), Patna-3 (hereinafter referred to as the “Ld. CIT(A)”] dated 25.01.2023 for the AY 2017-18.

2.

At the outset, we note that the Cross Objection of the assessee is barred by limitation by 85 days. At the time of hearing the counsel of

3.

The first issue raised by the Revenue is against the order of learned CIT (A) quashing the notice u/s 148 of the Act.

3.1. The facts in brief are that the learned AO reopened the case u/s 147 of the Act by issuing notice u/s 148 of the Act on 12.10.2017, after obtaining approval of competent authority. The case of the assessee was reopened for the reason that the assessee has deposited a huge amount of ₹1,12,30,000/- in her bank account of Allahabad Bank, Patna. It was further noted by the learned AO that the cash was deposited during the period of 09.11.2016 to 31.11.2016.However during the assessment proceedings the AO noted that in fact cash of Rs, 1,21,63,000/- was deposited into bank and accordingly added the same to the income of the assessee in the assessment framed u/s 143(3)/147 of the Act dated 13.12.2018.

3.2. In the appellate proceedings, the learned CIT (A) recorded a very cryptic finding by observing and holding as under: - “I have considered the reasons recorded by the AD which has been reproduced in foregoing paragraph I have also considered the written submission made by the Ld. Als There is no dispute that the cash of Rs. 1,12,30,000/- has been deposited in bank account of the appellant. There is also no dispute that the source of the cash have been explained in online submission to the AO. It was submitted that source of cash deposit during the demonetization period from 09.11.2016 to 30.12.2016 was the cash in hand as on 08.11.2016 of Rs. 38.01 lakh and the cash sales as per cash invoices Rs. 83.26 lack aggregating to Rs. 1,21,63,000/- crore, out of which Rs. 1,12,30.000/- was deposited after 08.11.2016. There is no dispute that the assessee is in business of sale of FMCG products As per the audit report and ITR, the turnover for AY 2017-18 was Rs

4.

So far as the deletion of addition on merit is concerned, the Revenue has challenged the deletion made by the learned CIT (A) of ₹1,21,63,000/- as made by the learned AO on account of cash deposited during the demonetization period.

4.1. The facts in brief are that the assessee is a proprietor of M/s Ramesh Enterprises which deals in FMCG products like tea, perfume and Oil etc. The learned AO noted that the assessee deposited of ₹1,12,30,000/- on several occasions from 09.11.2016 to 31.12.2016, which was stated to be deposited cash out of accumulated cash in hand and the same represented to be accumulated out of cash sales 4.2. The learned CIT (A) in the appellate proceedings allowed the appeal of the assessee again passing a very cryptic order as under: - “Ground No. 3 to 8: For that, addition of Rs.12163000 under section 68 is lead in law in absence of any reasonable opportunity of being heard. The whole assessment is in violation of natural law and justice and void ab initio. For that Ld. A.O. has failed to appreciate the stand taken initially by the appellant that the entire deposit in the bank account in between 09.11.2016 amounting to Rs.11230000 to 30.12.2016 to 30.12.2016 amounting to Rs.11230000 is fully covered out of cash in hand as on 08.11.2016 as per books and sales proceeds from 09.11.2016 to 31.12.20216 especially when the sales are supported by cash invoices and disclosed to the Income Tax Department and Sales Tax Department under VAT. The addition is based on suspicion and surmises and surmises and has no leg to stand in the eye of law. For that that Ld. A.O. has erred in disallowing the exemption of Rs.150000 claimed under section 80 by the appellant on account of accrued interest on NSC payment of LIP and Investment in NSC on suspicion and surmises without giving proper opportunity of being heard. For that the Ld. A.O. has similarly erred in disallowing deduction under section 80TTA at Rs.263 whereas in fact he has accepted the bank interest as income from other Sources. For that the charming of interest under section 234A is bad in law as original return as well as return filed under section 148 is well within time. The consequential relief under section 234B may be allowed in case of quantum relief. For that whole order is bad in fact as well as in law and suitable to be allowed in full. As I have I have already quashed the assumption of jurisdiction u/s 147, these grounds are only of academic interest, hence no opinion is expressed on these grounds”

7. After hearing the rival contentions and perusing the material on record including the decisions cited before us, we observe that the assessee has shown to have done trading in sarees in Kolkata. We also note that all the transactions of sale and purchases were made in cash and the assessee has also maintained the books of account and recorded the transactions as regards purchase and sales therein. This is undisputed that the cash deposited in to the bank account of assessee was out of cash books and a finding to that effect has been given by the AO as well. We also note that the AO has not rejected the books of account and even sale was not doubted. Therefore the action of the AO by adding the cash sales u/s 69A amounted to double addition which is not permissible under the Act. First by way of accepting the sales and secondly by way of making further addition towards cash sales u/s 69A of theAct. The case of assessee finds support from the decision of Co-ordinate Bench in the case of ITO vs. Joydeb Kundu (supra) wherein the Hon’ble Bench has held as under: “8. We have carefully gone through the material available on record and considering the rival submission made by the parties, in the present case both the authorities below accepted the fact that the amount received by assessee are nothing but sale proceeds in the course of business of the assessee. The 4.5. In the result, the appeal of the Revenue is dismissed.

CO No.1/PAT/2023 5. The issue raised in assessee’s Cross Objection in ground nos.1 to 3 is in support of the learned CIT (A) order, where reopening has been upheld by us. Since, we have reversed the order of learned CIT (A) in the above Para on this issue by holding that the reopening has been validly made and therefore, the ground no. 1 to 3 are in the cross objection are dismissed.

7.

The issue raised in ground no. 5 is not pressed at the time hearing, hence, dismissed.

8.

In the Result, the appeals of the Revenue and CO of the assessee are partly allowed.

Order pronounced in the open court on 09.12.2025.

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