SHILPA SHETTY,MUMBAI vs. ACIT CC 13, MUMBAI

1 Shilpa Shetty Assessment Year-2011-12 आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण “जे” "ायपीठ मुंबई म"। IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL “J” BENCH, MUMBAI माननीय "ी श""जीत दे, "ाियक सद" एवं माननीय "ी मनोज कुमार अ"वाल, लेखा सद" के सम"। BEFORE HON’BLE SHRI SAKTIJIT DEY, JM AND HON’BLE SHRI MANOJ KUMAR AGGARWAL, AM

आयकरअपील सं./ I.T.A. No.5433/Mum/2017 (िनधा"रण वष" / Assessment Year: 2011-12) Shilpa Shetty ACIT-Central Circle-13 बनाम नाम नाम/ नाम CGO Building Annex-11th Floor 7/D, Aditya Apartments, SVP Nagar Andheri (East) Aaykar Bhavan, M.K. Road Vs. Mumbai-400 054. Mumbai-400 020. "थायीलेखासं./जीआइआरसं./PAN/GIR No. ACPPS-6622-P (अपीलाथ"/Appellant) (ू"यथ" / Respondent) :

: Shri Ronak G. Doshi-Ld.AR अपीलाथ"क"ओरसे/ Appellant by : Shri M.K. Singh-Ld. DR ू"यथ"क"ओरसे/Respondent by सुनवाईक"तार"ख/ : 04/06/2019 Date of Hearing घोषणाक"तार"ख / : 25/06/2019 Date of Pronouncement आदेश / O R D E R

Manoj Kumar Aggarwal (Accountant Member):- 1. Aforesaid appeal by assessee for Assessment Year [in short referred to as ‘AY’] 2011-12 contest the order of Ld. Commissioner of Income-Tax (Appeals)-58, Mumbai, [in short referred to as ‘CIT(A)’], Appeal No. CIT(A)- 58/72/2014-15/138 dated 19/01/2017 on following Grounds of appeal:-

2 Shilpa Shetty Assessment Year-2011-12

GROUND I 1. On the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) - 58 ('CIT(A)') erred in confirming the action of the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle-13, Mumbai ("AO") in making an addition of Rs.5.40 crores on account of transfer pricing adjustment made on the basis of Share Purchase Agreement ('SPA' / 'Agreement'). 2. He erred in holding that: a. M/s. Kuki Investments ('Kuki') was an "Associated Enterprises"('AE') of the Appellant within the meaning of section 92A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the Act'). b. Appellant's profession was an 'enterprise' within the meaning of section 92F(iii) of the Act separate from the Appellant being an 'enterprise'. 3. The Appellant prays that the alleged 'international transaction' was not between AEs and therefore the addition be considered as bad in law and be deleted. WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO GROUND I GROUND II 1. On the facts and circumstances and in law the CIT(A) erred in considering that agreeing to be associated with 'Rajasthan Royals' franchise ('RR') amounted to an "international transaction" as contemplated in section 92C of the Act. 2. He failed to appreciate and ought to have held that: a. The alleged services, if any, were provided by the Appellant, a resident to Jaipur IPL Cricket Private Limited (;JICPL'), another resident and also the owner of the RR b. If at all the Appellant promoted her image by being associated with RR. 3. The Appellant, therefore prays that the action of the AO in making the transfer pricing adjustment was erroneous and accordingly, liable to be deleted. WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO GROUND I & II GROUND III 1. On the facts and circumstance of the case and in law the AO erred in making an addition of Rs. 5.40 crores on account of transfer pricing adjustment made on the basis of Share Purchase Agreement ('SPA'). 2. He failed to appreciate and ought to have held that as the SPA was signed and executed on 02.02.2009 and therefore transfer pricing adjustment, if at all, could have been made only in AY 2009- 10. 3. The Appellant therefore prays that said transfer Pricing Adjustment be deleted. WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO GROUND I, II & III GROUND IV 1. On the facts and circumstances and in law the CIT(A) erred in confirming the action of the AO by computing the Arm's Length Price by considering the Appellant's agreement with Star India Private Limited and applied CUP method. 2. The CIT(A) failed to appreciate and ought to have held that average rate of all agreements (including agreements other than Star India) must be taken and 8 days (on which matches were played) were only for 3 working hours per day, being the actual duration of the IPL matches, which the Appellant was required to attend. 3. Accordingly, the average daily rate and also the number of days worked out by the AO and confirmed by the CIT(A) is erroneous. 4. The Appellant, therefore prays that the AO be directed to recompute the transfer pricing addition accordingly. GROUND V 1. On the facts and circumstances and in law the CIT(A) erred in confirming the action of the AO in disallowing a sum of Rs. 3,21,7637- being 0.5% of average investments u/s. 14A read with Rule 8D on 3 Shilpa Shetty Assessment Year-2011-12 the ground that since there is a change in the portfolio of investment of the Appellant, certain portion of expenditure is attributable to earning exempt income. 2. He failed to appreciate and ought to have held that: a. The Appellant, being a professional actress, had claimed expenditure in relation to her profession and no part of the expenditure could be said to have been incurred 'in relation to' earning with exempt income i.e. no nexus, direct or indirect with exempt income. b. It is a settled principle that if no expenditure is incurred in relation to exempt income, no disallowance can be made u/s. 14A of the Act. 3. The Appellant therefore prays that the AO be directed to delete the disallowance made u/s. 14A r.w.r. 8D of Rs. 3,21,763A.

4 Shilpa Shetty Assessment Year-2011-12 and the assessee had started providing the stated services from IPL-2 season onwards. 3.3 It was observed that an entity namely Jaipur IPL Cricket Private Limited [JIPL], engaged in the business of sports and media, owned Rajasthan Royals IPL Cricket team. JIPL was stated to be 100% subsidiary of EMSHL, Mauritius, which in turn, was owned by several entities namely M/s. Kuki Investment Ltd. (Bahamas), Blue Water Estates Ltd. (Hong Kong), Tresco International Ltd. (British Island) & Emerging Media IPL Ltd. (UK) in certain proportions. 3.4 It was further observed that Shri Raj Kundra (Husband of the assessee) made a decision to buy shares of EMHSL, Mauritius through M/s Kuki Investments. Accordingly, a share purchase agreement [SPA] was entered into on 02/02/2009 between Shri Raj Kundra (Husband), the assessee, EMHSL (Mauritius) & M/s Kuki Investment Ltd. The relevant extract of the agreement has already been reproduced in the quantum assessment order. It was noted that although the assessee was neither a buyer nor a seller of shares but still she was a signatory to the agreement and the said agreement bind her to render certain services without any charge to 100% subsidiary of EMSHL, Mauritius i.e. JIPL by virtue of the fact that her husband, Shri Raj Kundra, through his intermediary company got the shares of EMSHL, Mauritius. 3.5 In the said background, Ld. AO formed an opinion that the assessee and EMHSL were Associated Enterprises [AE] within the meaning of Section 92A(1) and the services rendered by the assessee to JIPL was an 5 Shilpa Shetty Assessment Year-2011-12 international transaction within the meaning of Section 92B which was to be benchmarked on the principle of Arm’s Length Price [ALP] as envisaged by law. 3.6 The assessee defended her stand, inter-alia, by submitting that the assessee as well as JIPL were residents and therefore, the stated transaction of rendering of services could not be termed as an international transaction. However, rejecting the same, Ld. AO opined that whatever services were rendered by the assessee, originated by virtue of said agreement with EMHSL which was a non-resident company. Further, the services were rendered in India and in essence, the services were rendered to a non-resident entity by virtue of that agreement. 3.7 Since, the assessee had not benchmarked the said transaction. Ld. AO proceeded to compute the ALP of the same in terms of provisions of Section 92C(3). The number of days for which the services were rendered were 18 days. Applying comparable price with M/s Star India Pvt Ltd., being the price for 15 days @Rs.30 Lacs per day, the ALP of the same was determined at Rs.540 Lacs which was added to the income of the assessee as TP adjustment. 3.8 The Ld. first appellate authority, primarily relying upon the order of its predecessor in assessee’s own case for AY 2010-11, confirmed the stand of Ld. AO. Aggrieved, the assessee is in further appeal before us. 4. Upon careful consideration, we find that the assessee agitated the stand of Ld. first appellate authority with success before this Tribunal vide

6 Shilpa Shetty Assessment Year-2011-12 ITA No. 2445/Mum/2014 order dated 21/08/2018. The matter has been concluded by co-ordinate bench in the following manner: - “6. We have heard the counsels for both the parties and we have also perused the material placed on record, judgment cited by both the parties as well as orders passed by revenue authorities. We find that although, the powers of Ld. CIT(A) being wider than that of any other appellate authorities or Court is not disputed, but the Ld. CIT(A) cannot cure a jurisdictional defect, which the AO derives only by recording a satisfaction as has been held in the case of Vodafone India Services Pvt. Ltd. Vrs. Union of India and others 920140 361 ITR 531 (Bom HC). We have gone through the decision relied upon by Ld. DR, but the para materia contained in those judgments are not applicable to the facts of the present case as the same do not deal with exercise of Ld. CIT(A)'s powers to cure jurisdictional defect. In this respect, we rely upon the decision in the case of Hindustan Lever's case (supra) and Equitable Investment's case (supra). 7. As far as objection raised by assessee on AE relationship between the Assessee and Kuki u/s. 92A of the Act is concerned, in this respect, Ld. AR submitted that Ld. CIT(A) did not uphold AO's finding that the Assessee and EMSHL were AEs. The revenue has not challenged the order of Ld. CIT(A) and consequently, the issue before us is limited to examine AE relationship between the Assessee and Kuki. In this respect, Ld. AR submitted that Sec. 92A(1) of the Act cannot be applied in isolation to hold that the assessee and Kuki were AEs. It was submitted that in order to constitute a relationship between the AEs, the parameters laid down in both sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 92A of the Act should be fulfilled. Ld. AR also relied upon the decision in the case of Page Industries Ltd. v. DCIT [2016] 159 lTD 680 (Bang. ITAT), Obulapuram Mining Co. (P.) Ltd. v. DCIT [2016] 76 taxmann.com 240 (Bang. ITAT) and ACIT v. Veer Gems [2017] 183 TTJ 588 (Ahd. ITAT) . Ld. AR on the application of Sec. 92A submitted that sec. 92A(1)(a) does not apply to the Assessee's case, as neither Kuki, through /one or more intermediaries, controls the assessee nor the Assessee, through /one or more intermediaries, controls Kuki. It was also submitted that even sec. 92A(1)(b) is also not applicable as, though RK controls Kuki, but he cannot be said to have controlled the assessee. Ld. AR also submitted that Sec. 92A(2)(J) deems the two 'enterprises' as AEs if one of the enterprises is controlled by an individual and the other 'enterprise' is also controlled by such individual or his relatives. It was submitted in Assessee‟s case, sec. 92A(2)(J) cannot be applied as neither RK nor Kuki cannot said to have controlled the Assessee. It was also submitted that even as per sec. 92F(iii), an 'enterprise' means a 'person', engaged in activities etc. The Assessee's Profession cannot be considered as a person within the meaning of sec. 2(31), separate from her, as the Assessee's profession is not assessable separately from the Assessee. Therefore, the question of Assessee being an AE of Kuki, by holding that RK controlled Kuki and RK's relative, i.e. Assessee, controlled the 'enterprise' of assessee's profession, does not arise. 8. On the other hand, Ld. DR relied upon the orders passed by revenue authorities and submitted that assessee and Kuki were AE‟s u/s. 92A(2)(J) as: a) the Assessee's husband, RK, controlled Kuki.

7 Shilpa Shetty Assessment Year-2011-12 b) the Assessee is an individual and as such a 'person' within the meaning of sec. 2(31). During the course of hearing, the Ld. DR also argued that Kuki had controlled the Assessee as Kuki had paid association fee on behalf of the Assessee to EMSHL.

8 Shilpa Shetty Assessment Year-2011-12 to the SPA); and as such the pre-requisite of a prior agreement between a non-AE with the AE of an assessee is not fulfilled. 14. Now, we proceed to deal with the objection of assessee on existence of "international transaction" and "price" is concerned, Ld. AR submitted that in order to apply Chapter X, existence of a 'transaction' is a pre-requisite. It was submitted that Sec. 92C(1) makes it clear that the transfer pricing adjustment substitutes the price of the transaction with ALP. Therefore, in order to constitute a 'transaction' there has to be a certain disclosed price. It was argued that existence of an „international transaction‟ cannot be presumed by assigning some price to it and then deducing that since it is not an arm's length price, an "adjustment" has to be made. 15. In this respect, Ld. AR relied upon the decision in the case of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. CIT [2016] 381 ITR 117 (Del. HC) and Bausch & Lomb Eyecare (India) (P.) Ltd v. ACIT [2016] 381 ITR 227 (Del HC) It was also argued that the word "Price" had not been defined in the Act. It seems to have been used in its ordinary sense as meaning money only. In this respect, reliance was placed on the decision in the case of CIT v. Ganesh Builders [1979] 116 ITR 911 (BomHC). Ld. AR further submitted that in the Assessee's case, she was desirous to enhance her brand image and hence, she got associated with RR, for which Kuki had paid a deposit of USD 10,00,000/-to EMSHL as Association fee. With the conclusion of transactions of purchase and subscription of shares completing on February 13, 2009, in terms of Cl. 2.3 and Cl.5.2 of the SPA, the rights granted to the Assessee automatically terminated and the said deposit was adjusted against the consideration payable on subscription of shares to EMSHL. Therefore, the association fee was only earnest money and not monetary consideration which can be considered as 'price'. It was argued that as the Assessee did not receive any consideration for the services rendered to JICPL, there was no 'price' which can be substituted with ALP. In the absence of any 'price', the provision of services could not be considered as an 'international transaction'. In absence of any 'international transaction', the provisions of sec. 92(1) cannot be applied and as such an adjustment on the basis of ALP cannot be made. It was also submitted that if at all it is held that there was a 'price' and therefore there existed a 'transaction', then in that eventuality, since the services were provided to JICPL, the alleged transaction was between the Assessee and JICPL, both being residents, then in that eventuality even otherwise the alleged transaction cannot be considered as an "international transaction" 16. On the other hand, Ld. DR relied upon the orders passed by Ld. CIT(A) and also on the decision of Hon'ble Special Bench of Kolkata ITAT in case of Instrumentarium Corporation Ltd. [2016] 179 TTJ 665, to submit that, since no fee was charged by the Assessee, the price was Zero and as such the ALP has to be substituted with the same. During the course of hearing, the Ld. DR had also relied on the decision of Hon'ble Delhi Tribunal in case of BMW India Pvt. Ltd. v. DOT [2017] ITA No. 1406/Del/2015, wherein, after considering Maruti Suzuki's case, determination of ALP was upheld. He also relied on the decision of Hon'ble Mumbai Tribunal in case of Sabre Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. [2018] ITA No. 4882/M/2015, to submit that the Tribunal had upheld the transfer pricing adjustment on the basis of ALP determination in case of assessee advancing interest free loan to its AE, by considering the income offered as zero. After relying on these decisions, the Ld. DR contended

9 Shilpa Shetty Assessment Year-2011-12 that in Assessee's case, the price was zero and therefore, the transaction is subjected to transfer pricing adjustment based on ALP determination. 17. We have heard the counsels for both the parties and we have also perused the material placed on record, judgments relied upon and orders passed by revenue authorities, we find that none of the 3 decisions cited by the Ld. DR can be applied in Assessee's case, as the facts of the cited cases are distinguishable from that of Assessee's case as under – i) In BMW's case (supra), BMW India had incurred expenses on marketing and promotional activities on behalf of its foreign holding company, against which it had not offered any income. It was found by the Hon'ble ITAT that the agreement between the parties provided for re- imbursement of marketing and promotional expenses by foreign holding co. and certain amount was, in fact, reimbursed to the Indian Co. Therefore, it was not a case where the price of the transaction was not disclosed and the Department had assumed certain price to substitute it with the ALP, unlike the case of the Assessee. ii. In Instrumentarium's case, the assessee had advanced an interest free loan to its AE. The Hon'ble Special Bench observed that "consideration of loan, i.e. interest, is inherently in the nature of income ". The Tribunal, then, held that "when no income is reported in respect of an item in the nature of income, such as interest, but the substitution of transaction price by arm's length price results in an income, it can very well be brought to tax." The transaction of services provided by the Assessee to JICPL, as against rights granted to her, cannot be equated with that of interest free loan to an AE. In Assessee's case, the deposit of money by Kuki was the price paid for shares to be issued by EMSHL. The Assessee obtained a right to appear against a reciprocal obligation to appear as and when matches were held. The deposit of money was not consideration for the right to appear. Also, in this case the Hon'ble Special Bench did not consider Maruti Suzuki's decision (supra) and to that extent was per-incuriam. iii. In Sabre Asia's case (supra), the counsel of the assessee had conceded the contention that the transaction of interest free loan is subjected to transfer pricing adjustments and as such the contentions raised by the Assessee before the Hon'ble Bench was not considered in that case. 18. As far as the objection of assessee with regard to the applicability of chapter 10, when no income has arisen is concerned. In this respect, the Ld. AR submitted that Chapter X pre- supposes existence of 'income' and lays down machinery provisions to compute ALP of such income, if it arises from an 'international transaction'. Sec. 92 is not an independent charging section to bring in a new head of income or to charge tax on income which is otherwise not chargeable under the Act. Accordingly, since no income had accrued to or received by the Assessee u/s. 5, no notional income can be brought to tax u/s. 92. In this regard, Ld. AR relied upon the following judgments:- i. Dana Corporation [2010] 321 ITR 178 (AAR) - Pg. 192 & 193 ii. Amiantit International Holding Ltd [2010] 322 ITR 678 (AAR) - Pg. 682, 683 and 692 26 I.T.A. No. 2445/Mum/2014 Shilpa Shetty iii. Praxair Pacific Ltd [2010] 326 ITR 276 (AAR) - Pg. 279 and 286 iv. Deere & Co [2011] 337 ITR 277 (AAR) - Pg. 280 & 284 v. Venenburg Group B.V [2007] 289 ITR 464 (AAR) - Para 15 at Pg. 472 vi. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. [2011] 334 ITR 69 (AAR) - Para 10 at Pg. 78

10 Shilpa Shetty Assessment Year-2011-12 vii. Vodafone India Services (P.) Ltd. v. Union of India [2013] 361 ITR 531 (Born HC) - Para 32 at Pg. 564 viii. Vodafone India Services (P.) Ltd. v. Union of India [2014] 368 ITR 1 (Born HC) - Para 24 (Pg. 30), 40 (Pg. 37-38) ix. Vodafone India Services (P.) Ltd. v. Union of India [2015] 369 ITR 511 (Born HC) - Para 8 at Pg. 515 x. Vodafone India Services (P.) Ltd. v. CIT [2016] 385 ITR 169 (Born HC) - Pg. 312 and 320 The Ld. AR further submitted that when the machinery provisions fail, then the charging provisions cannot be applied. In this respect, Ld. AR relied upon the decision in the case of CIT v. B.C. Srinivasa Setty [1981] 128 ITR 294 (SC) and CIT v. Official Liquidator, Palai Central Bank Ltd. [1979] 117 ITR 676 (Ker. HC) 19. On the other hand, Ld. DR relied upon the orders passed by revenue authorities and the decision in the case of Instrumentarium's case (supra) to contend that the price was zero and the provisions of Chapter X would apply accordingly. 20. After hearing both the parties at length, we find that since we have already rebutted the Ld. DR’s reliance on Instrumentarium's case above in detail, therefore the same are not applicable to the facts of the present case and we are of the view that since chapter 10 pre-supposes the existence of ‘income‟ and lays down machinery provision to compute ALP of such income, if it arises from an „International transaction‟. Section 92 is not an independent charging section to bring in a new head of income or to charge tax on income which is otherwise not chargeable under the Act. Accordingly, since no income had accrued to or received by the assessee u/s 5, no notional income can be brought to tax u/s 92 of the Act. We draw strength from the following judgments in the case of :- i. Dana Corporation [2010] 321 ITR 178 (AAR) - Pg. 192 & 193 ii. Amiantit International Holding Ltd [2010] 322 ITR 678 (AAR) - Pg. 682, 683 and 692 iii. Praxair Pacific Ltd [2010] 326 ITR 276 (AAR) - Pg. 279 and 286 iv. Deere & Co [2011] 337 ITR 277 (AAR) - Pg. 280 & 284 v. Venenburg Group B.V [2007] 289 ITR 464 (AAR) - Para 15 at Pg. 472 vi. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. [2011] 334 ITR 69 (AAR) - Para 10 at Pg. 78 vii. Vodafone India Services (P.) Ltd. v. Union of India [2013] 361 ITR 531 (Born HC) - Para 32 at Pg. 564 viii. Vodafone India Services (P.) Ltd. v. Union of India [2014] 368 ITR 1 (Born HC) - Para 24 (Pg. 30), 40 (Pg. 37-38) ix. Vodafone India Services (P.) Ltd. v. Union of India [2015] 369 ITR 511 (Born HC) - Para 8 at Pg. 515 x. Vodafone India Services (P.) Ltd. v. CIT [2016] 385 ITR 169 (Born HC) - Pg. 312 and 320 And keeping in view of our above finding, we allow these grounds and direct the AO to deleted the additions. 21. Since we have already deleted the additions by above reasoned order, therefore there is no need to adjudicate other grounds on merits in view of our above findings as the same become infructous.”

11 Shilpa Shetty Assessment Year-2011-12 Nothing has been brought on record to establish that the aforesaid ruling is not applicable to the facts of the present case before us. Facts and circumstances being pari-materia the same, respectfully following the binding judicial precedent, we direct for deletion of impugned TP adjustment. Ground No. 1 stands allowed which makes other Grounds II to IV infructuous. 5.1 The second disallowance u/s 14A stem from the fact that the assessee earned exempt dividend income of Rs.9.16 Lacs during the impugned AY and held investment of Rs.668.69 Lacs. Since no disallowance was offered by the assessee against the same, Ld. AO compute expense disallowance of Rs.3.21 Lacs, being 0.5% of average investments, in terms of Rule 8D(2)(iii). The same upon, confirmation by Ld. first appellate authority is under appeal before us. The Ld. CIT(A) has directed Ld. AO to exclude those investments which may not be capable of yielding exempt income to the assessee. 5.2 The Ld. AR, briefly submitted that keeping in view the decision of Delhi Tribunal (Special Bench) rendered in ACIT Vs. Vireet Investment (P.) Ltd. [82 Taxmann.com 415], Ld. AO may be directed to take into consideration only those investments which have actually yielded any exempt income during the year. Concurring with the same, we direct Ld. AO to take into consideration only those investments which have actually yielded any exempt income during the year. The assessee is directed to provide requisite information, in this regard. This ground stand partly allowed.

12 Shilpa Shetty Assessment Year-2011-12 6. Resultantly, the appeal stands partly allowed.

Order pronounced in the open court on 25th June, 2019. (Saktijit Dey) (Manoj Kumar Aggarwal) "ाियक सद" / Judicial Member लेखा सद" / Accountant Member मुंबई Mumbai; िदनांकDated : 25/06/2019 Sr.PS:-Jaisy Varghese आदेश की "ितिलिप अ"ेिषत/Copy of the Order forwarded to : अपीलाथ"/ The Appellant 1. ""थ"/ The Respondent 2. आयकरआयु"(अपील) / The CIT(A) 3. आयकरआयु"/ CIT– concerned 4. िवभागीय"ितिनिध, आयकरअपीलीयअिधकरण, मुंबई/ DR, ITAT, Mumbai 5. गाड"फाईल / Guard File 6. आदेशानुसार/ BY ORDER,

उप/सहायकपंजीकार (Dy./Asstt.