KALPATARU PROJECTS INTERNATIONAL LTD,GUJARAT vs. DCIT, CC-3(3), MUMBAI

4 The CIT(A) has erred in upholding the disallowance of employee contributions to ESIC made by JMC amounting to INR 84,95,010 5 The CIT(A) has erred in not granting the credit of foreign taxes paid by the Appellant under section 90/90A of the Act amounting to Rs. 19,91,64,698/-.” 3.1. The revenue has taken the following grounds related AY 2018-19. Grounds of appeal: 1. “Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the The Ld. CIT(A) has erred in placing undue reliance on documents such as ledger accounts, self-generated invoices, work orders, and bank payments produced by the assessee without ensuring independent third- party verification of actual supply of goods/services. Such self-serving documents cannot establish genuineness in the face of contrary evidence unearthed during investigation."

2. "Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in restricting the disallowance of purchases from certain vendors from 100% to 12.5%, thereby granting relief of Rs. 23,09,14,296/-, despite clear and cogent evidence gathered during search and post-search proceedings establishing that the transactions were non-genuine."

3. "Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld. CIT(A) erred in disregarding the binding decision of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in PCIT v. Drisha Impex (P.) Ltd. [2025] 173 taxmann.com 571, wherein the Hon'ble Court upheld and restored the addition made by the Assessing Officer. The assessee therein had preferred an SLP before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, which was dismissed, thereby affirming the judgment of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court and sustaining the addition made by the Assessing Officer." to 5961 and 6113,6114 & 6159/Mum/2025 Kalpataru Projects International Ltd 4. The brief facts of the case are that the assessee is public limited company engaged in engineering, procurement and construction services across various infrastructure sectors including power transmission building and factories, water, railways and heavy civil infrastructure. The assessee filed the original return under section 139(1) on 30.11.2018 by declaring total income amount to Rs.4,54,32,14,660/- and computed book profit under section 115JB of the Act amount to Rs.4,69,85,90,847/-. The case was selected for scrutiny and order under section 143(3) was passed. A search and seizure action under section 132 of the Act was carried out in Kalpataru Group of Companies on 04.08.2023 in which the premises of the assessee was also covered. The notice under section 148 was issued on 31.03.2024 in response the assessee filed the return. After the details scrutiny the Ld. AO disallowance of 100% of expenses amounting to Rs.2,47,49,600/- under section 37(1) of the Act in respect of transaction of erstwhile M/s JMC Projects (India) Ltd. (JMC) which is merged with the assessee w.e.f. 01.04.2022. The Ld. AO during assessment proceeding had made the details factual discussion which is reproduced as below: “3. It is also to be noted that M/s, JMC Projects India Limited (JMC) has merged into M/s. Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPIL) (earlier known as M/s. Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited) which is effective from 01.04.2022. Thus, KPIL is the successor entity of JMC. In this regard, it is pertinent to mention that on perusal of the merger order dated 21.12.2022 passed by National Company Law Tribunal, Ahmedabad, it is seen that as per order all the assets, liabilities, rights, claims, duties and obligations etc. of JMC shall stand transferred to and vested in KPIL on a going concern basis, so as to become the assets, liabilities (including tax liabilities), rights, claims, duties and obligations etc. of KPIL. It is also mentioned that any legal proceeding pending by/against JMC shall continue on behalf of KPIL. 3.1 In view of the above, it is evident that once an entity is merged, it ceases to exist, and all legal and tax liabilities and any other proceeding shift to the resulting/successor to 5961 and 6113,6114 & 6159/Mum/2025 Kalpataru Projects International Ltd entity. In this regard, reliance is placed on the judgement of Hon'ble Supreme Court in Maruti Suzuki Case (2019) wherein it was held any notice issued to a non-existent entity is void ab initio (invalid from the beginning). Therefore, the proper approach is to issue notices in the name of the successor entity after merger/amalgamation. The same approach has been followed in the instant case.JMC was no longer in existence and KPIL was the successor entity as on the date of issuing notice u/s. 148 of the Act for the year under consideration. Accordingly, on the basis of findings of the search and post search proceedings regarding tax evasion by JMC and KPIL, notice u/s. 148 was issued in the name of KPIL being the resulting/successor entity.

4. A search & seizure action under section 132 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to "the Act") was carried out in Kalpataru Group of companies on 04.08.2023 at the premise 101, Kalpataru Synergy, Opp Grand Hyatt, Santacruz East, Mumbai-400055. The assessee company i.e. M/s. Kalpataru Projects International Limited (earlier known as M/s. Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited) was also covered in same search.

The assessment under section 147 of the Act was framed. Aggrieved, the assessee preferred an appeal before the Ld. CIT(A), challenging the assessment both on legal grounds as well as on merits. The Ld. CIT(A) partly allowed the appeal on merits by restricting the addition to 12.5% of the alleged bogus purchases made by JMC; however, the legal grounds raised by the assessee were rejected. Being aggrieved by the said order, both the assessee as well as the revenue has filed appeals before us. to 5961 and 6113,6114 & 6159/Mum/2025 Kalpataru Projects International Ltd

5. The Ld. AR argued and filed paper book which is containing pages 1 to 146 which is kept in record. The Ld. AR filed a written note related to his argument which is annexed in Legal Paper Book page 229 to 230. The said written note is reproduced as below:- “Note on assessment of JMC Projects

1. Section 60 to 65 (Chapter V) of the Income-tax Act provides for clubbing of income of one assessee with income of another assessee. As against that, Sections 159, 160, 161, 162, 163 etc. (including S. 170) provides mechanism for assessment of income of the predecessor in the name of successor in a representative capacity. These provisions are different from the provisions of clubbing inasmuch as it merely provides for i) giving an opportunity of hearing to the successor and ii) recovery of tax liability from the successor. The income of the successor and tax liability thereon is not affected by virtue of these provisions.

to 5961 and 6113,6114 & 6159/Mum/2025 Kalpataru Projects International Ltd iii. The status of the predecessor could be different than that of a successor. Trustees are assessed as representative assessee of the trust's income. Such assessment is always independent of the personal income of the trustee. Further, irrespective of the status of the trustee, the status of the trust would be that of beneficiary. Accordingly, the status of the trustee and status of the beneficiary (and, therefore, that of a trust) cannot be the same always. Therefore, one common assessment is impossible. iv. The residential status of the predecessor could be different than that of a successor resulting in difference in rate of tax, treaty benefit etc. v. The brought forward losses and depreciation of predecessor and successor could be different. In a given case, it may lead to unintended benefit to assessee. A successor may claim clubbing of losses of predecessor for a period prior to succession. vi. The applicability of MAT/AMT provisions could be different with different MAT/AMT credit. In the present case, JMC Projects has brought forward MAT credit which has been ignored by the Assessing Officer as he was assessing the assessee who is successor. vii. The time limit for reassessment, revision, rectification could be different.

to 5961 and 6113,6114 & 6159/Mum/2025 Kalpataru Projects International Ltd 6. The Ld. AR advanced his arguments by submitting that the statute itself does not permit the Ld. AO to make an addition of the income of the predecessor in the hands of the successor for a period prior to the amalgamation. It was submitted that the amalgamation took effect from 01.04.2022 and that the assessee is the successor of JMC. On a plain reading, the provisions of section 170 of the Act read as under:— “F.-Succession to business or profession Succession to business otherwise than on death. 170. (1) Where a person carrying on any business or profession (such person hereinafter in this section being referred to as the predecessor) has been succeeded therein by any other person (hereinafter in this section referred to as the successor) who continues to carry on that business or profession,- (a) the predecessor shall be assessed in respect of the income of the previous year in which the succession took place up to the date of succession; (b) the successor shall be assessed in respect of the income of the previous year after the date of succession. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), when the predecessor cannot be found, the assessment of the income of the previous year in which the succession took place up to the date of succession and of the previous year preceding that year shall be made on the successor in like manner and to the same extent as it would have been made on the predecessor, and all the provisions of this Act shall, so far as may be, apply accordingly.”

to 5961 and 6113,6114 & 6159/Mum/2025 Kalpataru Projects International Ltd entities have been treated as not part of the assessee. Therefore in our considered view, the disallowance of a claim made in the individual entity's financials cannot be addedas income in the hands of the assessee during the year which is prior to amalgamation. Further, we notice that the disallowance made is based on the amounts debited to the Profit and Loss account of these two companies and that the assessing officer has stated in the order under section 153A r.w.s.143(3) that the disallowance is done based on statement recorded from Shri. Sandeep N Gharat. Therefore the submission that the addition is made not based on any seized material but based on statement recorded has merits. Accordingly on this count also, we are of the view that the additions made by the Assessing Officer by way of disallowance under section 37(1) are not sustainable. In view of this, we delete the addition made by the Assessing Officer.”

“14. We have carefully considered the rival contentions and perused the orders of the lower authorities. The assessee has contested ground No. 3 to 7 of the appeal which deals with the addition on account of sale of property of Shri Ashok Tyagi a non resident in the hands of the assessee as representative assessee u/s 160 of the Act. The claim of the Id AR is that the assessee cannot be treated as agent of nonresident Mr. Ashok Tyagi without passing a specific order u/s 163 of the Act. Other ground of proper opportunity of hearing and further even otherwise the Id AO was required to frame a separate assessment order in the name of the assessee in his representative capacity as a agent of Mr. Ashok Tyagi which has not been made by the learned assessing officer but has made the addition in the hands of the assessee as his own income. Thus not passing an order separately treating the assessee as the representative assessee of Mr.Asoka Tyagi but making the addition along with the other income of the assessee in the hence of the assessee is an invalid order. According to the provisions of Section 160 (1) (1) representative with respect to a non-resident means the agent of the non-resident including a person who is treated as an agent u/s 163 of the income tax act. According to Section 163 of the act in relation to a non-resident and agent includes any person who has any business connection with the non-resident or from or through womb the non- resident is in receipt of any income whether directly or indirectly. In the present case, the assessee has sold the property on behalf of a non-resident and has transferred the money to the non-resident through him. Therefore, according to the provisions of Section to 5961 and 6113,6114 & 6159/Mum/2025 Kalpataru Projects International Ltd 163 of the act, the assessee is an agent of the non-resident Mr. Ashok Tyagi. It page number 9 and 10 of the order the assessee was given an opportunity to explain why he should not be treated as an agent of the assessee which has been answered by the assessee as evident by the letter dated 10/2/2014 of the assessee. This objection of the assessee was rejected holding that assessee is an agent of a non-resident and therefore he is a representative assessee of a non-resident. Further the provisions of Section 161 provides that every representative assessee as regards the income in respect of which he is a representative assessee shall be subject to the same duties, responsibilities and liabilities as if income is received by or accruing to or in favour of him beneficially and shall be liable to assessment in his own name in respect of that income but such assessment shall be deemed to be made upon him in his representative capacity only. It further provides that the tax subject to other provisions of the income tax act be levied upon and recovered from him in like manner and to the same extent as would be leviable upon and recoverable from the person represented by him. Therefore, the assessing officer should have passed a separate assessment order from the income of the assessee with respect to the income of the non-resident holding the assessee as a representative of a non-resident. In the present case, the assessing officer has passed an order in the name of the assessee without specifying that the above income is chargeable to tax in the hands of the assessee as a representative assessee of a non-resident l.e. not passing a separate order but adding the income of the non-resident in the hands of the assessee is not in accordance with the provisions of Section 161 of the act. The learned AO has also charged the tax in the hands of the assessee in the residential status of resident and not non-resident. On this score, the addition made by the learned assessing officer of the income of the non-resident Under the head capital gain of ₹5,655,874/- is required to be deleted. Thus, ground number 7 of the appeal of the assessee is allowed.”

to 5961 and 6113,6114 & 6159/Mum/2025 Kalpataru Projects International Ltd 1969 accrued to the corresponding new bank, viz., Indian Overseas Bank, under section 5(1) and the tax liability in respect of the banking business done for the period prior to 19-7-1969 should also be met by the corresponding new bank, viz., the Indian Overseas Bank. From the details and the audited statements furnished by the Indian Overseas Bank, the ITO worked out the income for the periods 1-1-1969 to 18-7-1969 and 19-7- 1969 to 31-12-1969 separately and consolidated the same and arrived at a total income of Rs. 68,81,650 on which the Indian Overseas Bank was assessed. On appeal by the Indian Overseas Bank before the AAC contending that the income for the period 1-1- 1969 to 18-7-1969 ought not to have been included in the total income of the assessee, the AAC rejected the same on the ground that the profit earned for the period 1-1-1969 to 18-7-1969 has been transferred to, and received by the assessee and such profit earned in the normal course of business carried on in the accounting year, relevant to the assessment year 1970-71, will have to be included while computing the total income of the assessee and the profit cannot be taken as capital receipt in the hands of the assessee. Against this, the Indian Overseas Bank preferred an appeal before the Tribunal.”

to 5961 and 6113,6114 & 6159/Mum/2025 Kalpataru Projects International Ltd order, all assets, liabilities (including tax liabilities), rights, duties, claims and obligations of JMC were transferred to and vested in KPIL on a going concern basis. It is further provided in the scheme that any legal proceedings initiated by or against JMC shall henceforth be continued by or against KPIL. Accordingly, with effect from the appointed date, JMC ceased to exist as a separate legal entity, and KPIL became its successor for all legal and tax purposes. This legal position is undisputed. On this basis, the reassessment proceedings for A.Y. 2018-19 were initiated by issuance of a notice under section 148 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, in the name of KPIL, being the surviving entity.

5.4 The appellant has contended that the additions relate to transactions undertaken by JMC in the year under consideration, and therefore, the notice issued solely in the name of KPIL is invalid in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. v. CIT [(2020) 116 taxmann.com 375 (SC)]. However, in my considered view, the ratio of Maruti Suzuki does not render the present proceedings invalid. In Maruti Suzuki, the Supreme Court held that issuance of notice to a non-existent amalgamating company after its merger is void ab initio. However, it was further clarified that proceedings should instead be initiated in the name of the amalgamated company, i.e., the surviving legal entity. In the present case, the notice under section 148 was issued to KPIL only after the merger had taken legal effect. At that point in time, JMC was no longer in existence and had ceased to be a juristic person. Therefore, issuance of notice to JMC was legally impossible. The only legally viable course of action was to proceed against KPIL, the amalgamated entity, and that is what has been done. It is also a matter of procedural fact that notices in the name of JMC could not have been issued by the AO through the system, as the PAN of JMC would have been deactivated post the merger.

5.5 It is also pertinent to note that section 170 of the Act explicitly provides for assessment in cases of succession. Where a business is succeeded by another person, the successor may be assessed in respect of the income of the predecessor. The law recognizes that upon amalgamation, the successor steps into the shoes of the amalgamating entity and becomes responsible for its tax liabilities. In the present case, the AO has rightly invoked jurisdiction against KPIL, being the amalgamated company and the legal successor of JMC. The notice under section 148, as well as subsequent proceedings, have been validly issued and carried out in the name of KPIL. The additions relate to transactions of JMC, but those liabilities have, by operation of law, vested in KPIL. Accordingly, the proceedings do not suffer from any jurisdictional defect.

5.6 I also note that, in the present facts, the AO has specifically sought the details of transactions of JMC from the appellant based on material gathered during the search proceedings and the actions of the AO do not cause any prejudice to the Appellant. Moreover, it is pertinent to note that the Appellant, upon receiving notices, has responded to various queries raised by the AO in respect of JMC. This clearly shows that the Appellant has participated in the proceedings. The issue raised by the Appellant ellant is only a procedural aspect and there is is no no material irregularity that vitiates the assessment and the ground raised by the appellant is hereby dismissed.”

to 5961 and 6113,6114 & 6159/Mum/2025 Kalpataru Projects International Ltd succeeds. Once the assessment itself fails on jurisdictional grounds, the additions sustained by the Ld. CIT(A) on merits do not survive for adjudication. Accordingly, the appeal filed by the assessee is allowed on legal grounds, and the appeal filed by the revenue stands dismissed. So, the appeal of the assessee is allowed, and the appeal of the revenue is dismissed.

Order pronounced in the open court on 13/01/ 2026 Sd/- Sd/- (PRABHASH SHANKAR) (ANIKESH BANERJEE) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER Mumbai,िदनांक/Dated: 13/01/2026 Pavanan Copy of the Order forwarded to: 1. अपीलाथ�/The Appellant , 2. �ितवादी/ The Respondent. 3. आयकरआयु� CIT 4. िवभागीय�ितिनिध, आय.अपी.अिध., मुंबई/DR, ITAT, MUMBAI