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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, JAIPUR BENCHES, JAIPUR
Before: SHRI BHAGCHAND, AM & SHRI KUL BHARAT, JM vk;dj vihy la-@ITA No. 908, 909, 629/JP/2013, 607, 608, 609 & 610/JP/2015
PER SHRI KUL BHARAT, JM.
This Bunch of 11 appeals of different assessees are directed against the
separate orders of the Commissioner of Income Tax (A) dated 10.09.2013,
19.09.2013, 14.05.2013, 27.04.2015, 05.03.2015, 01.11.2013 and 03.12.2015 by
the assessee and the revenue respectively. In all these appeals common issues are
involved, therefore, all the appeals were taken up together and are being disposed
of by way of consolidated order, for the sake of convenience and brevity.
First we take up assessee’s appeal ITA No. 908/JP/2013, pertaining to the
assessment year 2004-05 which is against the order of ld. CIT (A) wherein the
asseessee has raised the following grounds of appeal.
“On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld.CiT (A) has grossly erred in upholding the gross receipts of Rs. 3,16,190/- from hiring as unaccounted income by rejecting vehicles hiring business and thereby sustaining an addition of Rs. 2,92,190/- (3,16,190-24,000(income already declared on account of vehicles hiring) as income from other sources, arbitrarily without considering the submissions made and evidences adduced. Hence the addition of Rs. 2,92,190/- deserves to be deleted, more particularly when such income was duly declared in regular return filed u/s 139(1) and no adverse evidence was found as a result of search leading to belie that assessee was not engaged in vehicle hiring business.
1.1 That the Ld. CIT (A) has further erred in sustaining the disallowance of the following expenses claimed out of vehicle hiring income arbitrarily without considering the genuineness of the claim.
Particulars Amount Depreciation 2,01,000.00 Bank Charges 60.00 Interest on car loan 31,450.00 Repairing and maintenance 5,680.00 Salary 54,000.00 Total 2,92,190.00
1.2 That the Ld. CIT (A) as well as the Ld. AO has failed to appreciated the reply of the assessee in question no. 9 reproduced by the AO in his order wherein assessee has categorically mentioned about the loans taken on such vehicles. Hence the expenses so claimed deserves to be allowed and income be classified as earned from vehicle hiring business.
1.3 That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in observing at page 6 of his order that the assessee has not declared income from hiring of vehicles in regular return filed u/s 139(1) by wrongly placing reliance on return of income filed by the father of assessee Shri Narayan Lal Meena, thus observation of Ld. CIT(A) deserves to be ignored and excluded.
1.4 That the Ld. CIT(A) has further erred in drawing adverse inference from reply to question No. 2 of the statement of the assessee stating that his traditional business is manufacturing of Gajak and no reference was made to the business of plying of taxi, while doing so Ld. CIT (A) has ignored the fact that assessee’s family is engaged in this business since long and vehicle hiring business is a secondry business and was not the main business activity of assessee and in said statement assessee has not categorically denied about taxi plying business, thus income earned from vehicle hiring business deserve to be accepted.
On the facts and in the circumstance of the case the Ld. CIT (A) has grossly erred in sustaining an addition of Rs. 3,00,000/- u/s 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961being gift received from his father on whims and fancies without considering the evidences adduced and ignored the act that the assessee has furnished all plausible evidences to prove the creditworthiness and genuniness of transaction, thus the addition of Rs. 3 lacs deserves to be deleted.
2.1 That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in placing reliance on remand report of the AO stating that said gift was received by the
assessee from his father on 13.08.2003 and in cash book furnished by the assessee during the course of assessment proceedings for the year under consideration the assessee has surrendered the said amount on 30.05.2003 as cash received. While doing so the Ld. CIT(A) ignored the act that as per cash book the assessee has surrendered Rs. 9.00 lacs on 30.05.2003 on account of unaccounted income from sale of Gajak invested in purchase of shop and on 13.08.2003 the assessee has received cash of Rs. 3.00 lacs from his father, thus such there is no discrepancy in the date of receipt of cash in the books of accounts and date on which the gifts was made as per the affidavits filed by the appellant and his brothers, thus observation of Ld. CIT(A) deserves to be ignored and genuineness of gift received deserves to be accepted.
On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT (A) has grossly erred in sustaining an addition of Rs. 2,00,000/- u/s 69 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 being investment made in shares on assumption and presumptions without considering the evidences adduced, thus the addition of Rs. 2 lacs deserves to be deleted.
3.1 That the Ld. CIT(A) has further erred in ignoring the fact that the books of accounts were tendered for verification wherein all the payments made have been duly recorded and backed by necessary sources, hence the addition of Rs. 2 lacs so made deserves to be deleted.
3.2 That the Ld. CIT (A) has further erred in not accepting the opening cash in hand which was duly declared in the return of income filed or immediately preceding assessment years, thus the addition of Rs. 2 lacs made toward such opening cash balance deserves to be deleted. 4. That the appellant craves the right to add, delete, amend or abandon any of the grounds of appeal either before or at the time of hearing of appeal.”
Briefly stated the facts are that a search was conducted on 18/3/2010 in the
case of M/s Narayanaji Gajakwale, Jaipur to which the assessee belongs.
Subsequently, the assessment was made under section 153A/143(3), 1961, vide order dated 23rd Dec. 2011. While framing the assessment, the assessing officer
made two addition of Rs. 2,92,190/- and 7,30,000/- treating the income from other
sources and on account of unexplained investment. Thus, computed income of Rs.
20,48,190/- against the income declared by the assessee of Rs. 10,26,000/-. The
assessing officer made addition of while rejecting the claim of expenditure of Rs.
2,92,190/- Further, the assessing officer made addition on account of unaccounted
investment in purchase of shop no. 344, Johri Bazar, Jaipur of Rs. 7,30,000/-.
Aggrieved by this, the assessee preferred an appeal before Ld. CIT(A) who after
considering the submission partly allowed the appeal. However, the Ld. CIT(A) out
of two additions namely Rs. 2,92,190/- and Rs. 7,30,00/- confirmed Rs. 2,92,190/-
and out of Rs. 7,30,000/- confirmed Rs. 5,00,000/-. Now, the assessee has filed
further appeals to this Tribunal.
The ground no. 1 to 1.4 are against the addition of Rs. 2,92,190/-. The ld.
Counsel for the assessee reiterated the submission as made in the written
submissions. The Ld. Counsel for the assessee submitted that the authorities below
failed to appreciate the facts in right perspective that the assessee had declared
gross receipt of Rs. 3,16,190/- against which expenses of Rs. 2,92,190/- were
claimed and net income of Rs. 24,000/- was declared on account of vehicles running
business. He submitted that on perusal of details expanses of Rs. 2,92,190/- it is
evident that expenses are in the nature of depreciation, salary and expenses of
running and maintenance of vehicles which are minimum expenses incurred for
running of the vehicles. He submitted that even if it is presumed that the allegation
of assessing officer is correct and source of income is denied these expanses of Rs.
2,92,190/- cannot be disallowed as ownership of the said vehicle has not been
doubted neither genuineness or reasonableness of expenditure under dispute. In
fact, the assessee had not offered any income against these expenses the same
would have been very well allowable as business expenses as vehicles have been
used for business. The AO had disallowed these expenditure, on the basis that the
source of income as claimed by the assessee was rejected.
4.1. On the contrary, the Ld. Departmental Representative for the assessee and
supported the order of the authorities below.
4.2. We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material available record
and gone through the order of the authorities below. The claim of the assessee is
that he was engaged in the business of plying vehicles on hiring. Admittedly, there
is no supporting evidence which suggest that the assessee had carried out this
activity. Another contention of Ld. Counsel for the assessee is that even if it is
assumed that the vehicles were not used for business of hiring of vehicles even then
the expenditure as claimed is allowable as the vehicles were used for business
purposes.
4.3. We find that no such claim was made before the authorities below. However,
it was incumbent upon the assessee to support this claim with some evidence.
Merely, stating that the vehicles were for business purposes, in our view, it would
not be sufficient to allow the claim of the assessee. Therefore, in the absence of
material evidences, the claim of the assessee can not be allowed. Thus these
grounds of assessee’s appeal are dismissed.
Ground no. 2 to 2.1 in respect of the sustaining and addition of Rs. 3 lakhs
under section 68 of the Act. The Ld. Counsel for the assessee reiterated the
submission as made in the written submissions. The Ld. Counsel for the assessee
submitted that during the course of the assessment proceeding the assessee had
claimed gifts of Rs. 3 lakh from his father on 13/8/2003 which was paid to certain
agriculturists as advance. The assessing officer treated the payment as made from
undisclosed source and made addition. He submitted that during the appellate
proceedings the assessee duly submitted the supporting evidence which were
brushed aside by the Ld. CIT(A). Same could not be furnished during the course of
assessment proceedings. After obtaining the remand report the ld. CIT(A) did not
accept explanation provided by the assessee and confirmed the addition. He drew
our attention to paper book page nos. 49 to 53, he submitted that the assessee
received Rs. 3 lakhs from his father. He submitted that the gifts received was in the
knowledge of other family members, thus no formal gifts deed was executed at that
time. He submitted that as for cash on hand the assessee claimed Rs. 9 lakhs on
account of income from sale of Gajak, which was invested in purchase on
13/8/2003. The assessee had received cash of Rs. 3 lakhs from his father which
was given as advanced to various agriculturists he submitted that there is no
discrepancy in the date of receipt on cash in the books of accounts and the date on
which the gifts was made as per affidavit filed by the appellant and his brothers. He
submitted no new fact is stated in the remand report and the allegation as made in
the assessment order are merely produced.
5.1. On the contrary, Departmental Representative opposed the submission and
submitted that this story of gift is an after thought.
5.2. We have heard the rival contention perused the material available record and
gone through the order of the authorities below. We find that the assessee had
furnished affidavit from other family members particularly brothers in the form of
affidavits to state that father of the assessee had given a gift of cash on Rs. 3 lakhs on 13th Aug. 2003, the authority below have not believed this statement on oath. It
is also not the case of the assessing officer that shri Narayan lal Meena father of the
assessee was not in a position to give such gifts. The assessee has also placed on
record return of income filed by the father of the assessee which demonstrate that
father of the assessee was having sufficient source of income sufficient. Therefore,
the orders of the authorities below are set aside on this issue and the assessing
officer is directed to delete the addition of Rs. 3 lakhs.
Ground no. 3 to 3.2 are against confirmation of addition of Rs. 2 lakhs. The
ld. Counsel for the assessee reiterated his submission as made in the written
submissions. The Ld. Counsel submitted that during the course of assessment as
well as in the appellate proceedings it was claimed that the said payment was made
out of opening cash balance. The ld CIT(A) did not accept this claim on the ground
that the assessee was showing a meager income. He submitted that this
observations of Ld. CIT(A) is not justified. As the Ld. CIT(A) has admitted the act
that the assessee is engaged in the business of Gajak and it is carried out on cash
basis.
6.1. On the contrary, the Ld. Departmental Representative opposed the
submissions.
6.2. We have heard the rival contention, perused the material available record.
We find that the assessee has been declaring income as per evidence placed on
record. The assessee has been declaring income since the assessment year 1999-
2000. Therefore, in our view the Ld. CIT (A) was not justified in confirming the
addition and rejecting the claim of cash on hand.
6.3. In view of the aforesaid, we hereby direct the Assessing Officer to delete the
addition. This ground of the assessee’s appeal is allowed.
Ground no. 4 is general in nature, needs no separate adjudication.
In the result, the appeal of the assessee in ITA No. 908/JP/2013 is partly
allowed.
ITA No. 890/JP/2013 & ITA No. 909/JP/2013:
Now, we take up cross appeals, that is ITA No. 890/JP/2013 and ITA No.
909/JP/2013 by the revenue and assessee respectively. These appeals are against
the order of Commissioner of Income Tax (A), Central, Jaipur dated 19.9.2013. First
we take up assessee’s appeal in ITA No. 909/JP/2013. The assessee has raised
following grounds of appeals :-
On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the ld. CIT (A) has grossly erred in upholding the gross receipts of Rs. 4,29,927/- (correct figure 4,24,972/-) from hiring of vehicles as unaccounted income by rejecting vehicle hiring business and thereby sustaining an addition of Rs. 4,29,927/- as Income from Other sources, arbitrarily, thus the addition of Rs. 4,29,927/- (correct figure 4,24,972/0] deserves to be deleted.
1.1. That the Ld. CIT (A) has further erred in sustaining the disallowance of the following expenses claimed out of vehicle hiring income arbitrarily without considering the genuineness of the claim. Particulars Amount Depreciation 2,52,600.00 Bank Charges 70.00 Interest on car loan 58,430.00 Repairing and maintenance 4,950.00 Salary 60,000.00 Car Insurance 48,,922.00 Total : 4,24,972.00
1.2. That the Ld. CIT (A) as well as the Ld. AO has failed to appreciated the reply of the assessee in question no. 9 reproduced by the AO in his
order wherein assessee has categorically mentioned about the loans taken on such vehicles. Hence the expenses so claimed deserves to be allowed and income be classified as earned from vehicle hiring business. 1.3. That the ld. CIT (A) has further erred in drawing adverse inference from reply to question No. 2 of the statement of the assessee stating that his traditional business is manufacturing of Gajak and no reference was made to the business of plying of taxi, while doing so ld. CIT (A) has ignored the fact that assessee’s family is engaged in this business since long and vehicle hiring business is a secondary business and was not the main business activity of assessee and in said statements assessee has not categorically denied about taxi plying business, thus income earned from vehicle hiring business deserves to be accepted.
On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the ld. CIT (A) has grossly erred in confirming the addition of Rs. 71,94,000/- on account of profit on sale of land in addition to the profit of Rs. 12,06,000/- declared by assessee arbitrarily without considering the submissions made and evidences adduced on mere assumption and presumption, hence the addition of Rs. 71,94,000/- deserves to be deleted.
2.1. That the ld. CIT (A) has further erred in holding that M/s. Vastu Land and Buildline Developers had paid amount of Rs. 1.50 crores to the appellant for purchase of land when in fact from documents/evidences submitted by the ld. AO in the remand proceedings it is clearly established that the said firm has never purchased land from the appellant nor had made any payment to him and the firm has made the payment of Rs. 1.50 crores to the Khatedars towards the purchase of land, thus addition of Rs. 71,94,000/- uphold on account o profit on sale of land in the hands of appellant deserves to be deleted.
2.2. That the ld. CIT (A) has further erred in observing that the assessee has received the payment from M/s. Vastu Land and Buildline Developers by placing reliance on notarized document signed by the partner of M/s. Vastu Land and Buildline Developers accepting that the payment of Rs. 1.50 crores was made to the brother of appellant for the same land, while observing so the ld. CIT (A) has ignored the fact that as per said documents, payment of land was made to the Khatedars and brother of the assessee acted as power of attorney holder of the Khatedars and from this document it does not established that the appellant was the owner of the said land and has received payment on the sale of such land, thus observation of the ld. CIT (A) deserves to be ignored and excluded and the resultant addition deserves to be deleted.
2.3. That the ld. CIT (A) has erred in ignoring the fact that the appellant in order to buy peace and to avoid prolonged litigation declared additional income of Rs. 12,06,000/- as income from business from sale of land to M/s. Vastu Land and Buildline Developers on the basis of documents found during the course of search which were hold as unauthentic by the ld. AO in remand proceedings and also discarded by ld. CIT (A), therefore addition upheld by the ld. CIT (A) deserves to be deleted.
2.4. That the ld. CIT (A) has further erred in observing that assesee has made total payment of Rs. 66.00 lacs to the owner of land as no lfurther evidence is available by ignoring the fact that the land owners in the receipts given for Rs. 66.00 lacs has categorically admitted the balance consideration as outstanding thus such observation deserves to be ignored and excluded and consequent addition of Rs. 71,94,000/- based on such baseless observations deserves to be deleted.
On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the ld. CIT (A) has grossly erred in sustaining an addition of Rs. 2,50,000/- claimed on account of various expenses incurred in sale of land without appreciating the facts of the case. Hence the addition of Rs. 2,50,000/- so sustained deserves to be deleted.
That the appellant craves the right to add, delete, amend or abandon any of the grounds of appeal either before or at the time of hearing of appeal.
Grounds no. 1 to 1.3 relates to addition made in respect of rejecting claim of
the assesse of Rs. 29,927/- being the income earned from plying of vehicles. The ld.
Counsel for the assessee reiterated the submissions as made in the written
submissions and submitted that identical ground was raised in ITA No. 908/JP/
2013.
10.1. The Ld. Departmental Representative has opposed the submissions and the
representatives of both the parties adopted the same argument as were made in ITA
No. 908/JP/2013.
10.2. We have heard the rival contentions and perused the material available
records. The facts are identical as were made in ITA No. 908/JP/2013 whereby we
have decided the similar issue by holding as under :
“ We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material available record and gone through the order of the authorities below. The claim of the assessee is that he was engaged in the business of plying vehicles on hiring. Admittedly, there is no supporting evidence which suggest that the assessee had carried out this activity. Another contention of Ld. Counsel for the assessee is that even if it is assumed that the vehicles were not used for business of hiring of vehicles even then the expenditure as claimed is allowable as the vehicles were used for business purposes. We find that no such claim was made before the authorities below. However, it was incumbent upon the assessee to support this claim with some evidence. Merely, stating that the vehicles were for business purposes, in our view, it would not be sufficient to allow the claim of the assessee. Therefore, in the absence of material evidences, the claim of the assessee can not be allowed. Thus these grounds of assessee’s appeal are dismissed.”
Taking a consistent view, this ground of assessee’s appeal is dismissed.
Ground nos. 2 to 2.4 is against confirming the addition of Rs. 71,94,000/- and
profit on sale of land of Rs. 12,06,000/-. The Ld. Counsel for the assessee reiterated
the submission as made in the written brief. The submission of the assessee are
that during the year under appeal a return of income was filed under section 153 A
of the Act wherein assessee declared an additional income of Rs. 12,06,00/-being
the profit from the sale of land. The ld. Counsel submitted that documents of
purchase of sale were found and seized during the course of search as annexure A
He submitted that during the year under consideration the assessee sold an
agriculture land to M/s. Vastu Land Developers and Pvt. Ltd. vide agreements to sale dated 8thAug. 2004 for total consideration of Rs. 1,50,00,000/- and received sale
consideration on various dated as copy of the same was annexed A-25. The said
land was purchased by the assessee from the two agriculturists for a sum of Rs.
1,35,00,000/- and the relevant copy of the purchased agreements were also seized
during the course of search vide Annexure A-25. It was submitted that the
assessee had made the payment of cost of land out of part sale consideration
received from buyer M/s Vastu Land and Developers Pvt. Ltd. on various dates. The
entire transaction resulted into profit of Rs. 12,06,000/-. He submitted that the date
wise receipt of advance and subsequent payment of kastkars against purchases of
subject land is tabulated in the written submission. He drew our attention to Page
no. 4 of the written submissions. He submitted that it is pertinent to note that the
advance receipts of Rs. 1,24,00,000/- from M/s Vastu Land and Build Line Pvt. Ltd.
is duly recorded. He submitted that the contents of the sale agreements and cash
receipts of Rs. 26,00,000/- have been reproduced by the Assessing Officer at pages
6 and 7 of the assessment order. He submitted that the Assessing Officer
misconstrued the terms of agreements dated 8/8/2004. He submitted that in both
the agreements to sale entered into the kastkars agriculturists namely Shri Ram Pal
Meena and Shri Narayan Lal Meena dated 13/10/2003 both the kastkars sold their
share of land to the assessee for sale consideration of Rs. 10 lakhs per Bigha and
advance payment of Rs. 1 lakh was accepted by them, which also finds reference in
the agreements. However, in the agreement of sale no time period was mentioned
for payment of balance sale consideration and it was clearly mention that when the
fulfill payment was made by Shri Ram Sawroop Meena to them, they will transfer the
share of ownership rights in the land to the assessee. He submitted that the
Assessing Oficer without bringing on record and any material or evidence observed
that Shri Ram Swaroop Meena purchased share of agricultural land of Shri Ram Pal
Meena and Shri Narayan Lal Meena in the month of Oct. 2003, whereas M/s Vastu
Land and Build Line Pvt. Ltd. paid first installment of Rs. 64 lakhs to Shri Ram
Swaroop Meena on 7/7/2004 as disclosed in agreement. He submitted as per
records the receipt mentioned at serial nos. 3 and 4 enclosed at assesseee paper
book pages nos. 36 to 37 of Rs.31 lakhs and 32 lakhs respectively issued by the
assessee to Shri Ram Pal Meena and Shri Narayan Lal Meena respectively. He
submitted that in the said receipt , the assessee has accepted the payment of above
amount of both the kastkars. Since, no particular date was mentioned in the receipt
and as the said receipt was given on stamp of Rs. 100/- which was purchase on
7/7/2004. It is therefore, can be presumed that the payment of secure installment
that is Rs. 30 Lakhs each to both the seller was made on the said date only and this
date was also coincide with the advance received from M/s Vastu Land and Build
Line Pvt. Ltd. He submitted that it was agreed by the assessee that the balance
amount will be paid up to 15/08/2004 which proves the fact that the assessee has
not paid the full consideration to kastkars on the date of receipt. During the
appellate proceedings, all the facts were narrated before the Ld. CIT (A) and it was
also contented if the assessing officer had any doubt about the genuineness of the
claim of the assessee he could have issue summoned under section 131 to kastkars
and buyers company to know actual state of transaction. He submitted that such
request was also made by the assessee during the course of assessment
proceedings. However, without acceding to the request of the assessing officer
proceeded to make additions on conjecture and summarize and summarily rejected
the claim of the assessee and alleged that the payment of the land under
consideration was made to the kastkars by the Shri Ram Swaroop Meena from his
unaccounted source. However, the Ld. CIT directed the assessing officer for making
verification by conducting enquiry and furnishing remand reports. The Assessing
Officer in remand report completely changed the basis on which the addition was
made in the assessment order and alleged that the assessee had never sold any
land to M/s Vastu Land and Build Line Pvt. Ltd. He further submitted that in the
second report, which is reproduced at page no. 21 to 22 order of the Ld. CIT. The
assessing officer after categorically analyzing has concluded that the payment to
kastkar were made by M/s Vastu land & Buildline Developers and not by the
assessee, which is based on the letter filed by the company to the assessing officer
that is ITO Ward 2(4) Jaipur, who accepted this contention while completing the
assessment of company. He submitted that it was submitted before the Ld. CIT(A),
if this contention of the assessing officer is taken as correct then it can be safely
concluded that there was neither any sale of land to M/s Vastu Land & Buildline
Developers nor any payment was made to the kastkar by the assessee. He
submitted that if the land is directly purchased from M/s vastu Land & Buildline
Developers question of making addition in the hands of assessee does not arise on
account of unexplained investment on purchase of said land and profit their own
does not arise. He further submitted that by observing contradiction in the finding
of the assessing officer during the assessment proceedings and remand report
proceedings. The Ld. CIT(A) called upon assessment records. On perusal of the
said records two additional documents were found by the Ld. CIT(A), which were
though part of assessment record, yet, were not mention in the assessment order.
He submitted that Annexure-F i.e. Power of Attorney registered by sub- Registrar
Sanganer, father of Ramkaran meena that is brother of the assessee registered on
8/7/2004 handed over all the rights with regard to the said property to him by Shri
Rampal Meena, Shri Narayan Lal Meena, Annexure-G is a sale agreement between
M/s Vastu Land & Buildline Developers dated 6/9/2004 wherein it has been admitted
that the said land has to be sold to M/s Vastu Land & Buildline Developers through
its partners namely Shri Raguveer Singh and Shri Kalyan Singh in lieu of it Rs. 1.50
crores has been received by Shri Ramkarna Meena which is also not signed by the
buyer and unilateral document signed by the Shri Ramkarn Meena. Thus, after
considering all the evidence available on records, the Ld. CIT(A) concluded that
appellant had made payments of Rs. 66 lakhs to Shri Rampal Meena and Shri
Narayan Lal Meena for their share of agricultural property, out of the advance
received from the company and the remaining amount of Rs. 71,94,000/- is held as
an unexplained payment made by the assessee, out of his undisclosed income by
ignoring the papers available in the seized documents. He submitted that the Ld.
CIT(A) concluded that no payment was made by the assesee to kastkars beyond Rs.
66 lakh. The Ld. CIT(A) had no objection so far as transition of sale of land by the
assessee to M/s Vastu Land & Buildline Developers of sale consideration is
concerned which is contrary to second remand report submitted by the assessing
officer. He submitted that few facts are worth consideration purchase of land is
evidenced by Ikrar Nama 13/10/2003 between Shri Rampal Meena and Shri Ram
Swaroop Meena(Annexure-C-1) (Assessess paper book pages 24 to 29), and the
Ikrarnama dated 13/10/2003 between Shri Naryanlal Meena and Shri Ram Swaroop
Meena (Annexure-C-2) (APB-30 to 35). He submitted that on perusal of these
agreements it can be seen that the rights in the land would transfer in favour of the
assessee only after final payment is made. The facts that assessee has paid entire
purchase consideration is evident from the affidavit of Shri Rampal Meena and Shri
Narayan Meena wherein they have acknowledged that no amount remained due on
the part of the assessee. He submitted that all these papers were found during the
course of search. He submitted that the assessing officer had observed that
purchase of land took place on 13/10/2003 whereas M/s Vastu Land & Buildline
Developers paid first installment of the sale consideration on 7/7/2004 and thus
arrived at conclusion that the payments were made by the assessee out of
unexplained source. He submitted that assessing officer has not doubted the
amount paid to the kastkars, as stated in the agreements rather objected the
sources of payment. The objection of the assessing officer was that the payments
were made prior to receipt of sale consideration from Vastu Land & Buildline
Developers. The assessee at the time of entering into agreement paid a sum of Rs.
1 lakh each, source of which has been unexplained while dealing with assessment
proceedings for assessment year 2004-05. He submitted that it is clearly mention
that balance payment would be made subsequently and only on final payment
assessee would be entitled to get land transfer in his name or his family members
name. The Ld. CIT(A) has also accepted the transaction of purchase from kastkars
as genuine by allowing the part cost of acquisition based on certain receipts
acknowledging the payment and has completely ignored the affidavits of the
Rampal Meena and Shri Nayaran Meena acknowledging that they had received
entire sale consideration and nothing remains due on the part of the assessee. He
submitted that these affidavits were also part of seized documents and can not be
inferred, being after thought, he submitted that although no specific receipts
available in respect of balance payment made to kastkars. These affidavits very well
prove that the entire payment as stated in Ikrarnama has been made to them. The
Ld. Counsel for the assessee relied on judgment of the Hon’ble Gujarat High Court
rendered in the case of Glass Lines Equipments Co. Ltd. vs. CIT, 253 ITR 454
(Guj.). He submitted that under these facts stated herein before, the assessee had
duly explained the source of payment made to the kastkars for purchase of land with
all possible evidence. Thus, profit on sale of agriculture land at Rs. 12 lakhs was
declared by the assessee deserves to be accepted.
11.1. On the contrary Ld. Departmental Representative opposed this submission
and supported the orders of the assessing officer.
11.2. We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material available record
and gone through the orders of the authorities below. The assessing officer made
addition on the basis that the payment of the sale consideration was made to
kastkars by shri Ram Swaroop Meena from his unaccounted source much before
receipt of Rs. 1.5 crores from M/s Vastu Land & Buildline Deveopers in the month
of July to Oct. 2004. The source of this investment remained unexplained out of the
total unaccounted payment Rs. 1,35,00,000/- a payment of Rs. 3 lakhs as advance
has been added to the income of the assessee as an unexplained investment in the
assessment year 2004-05. The balance amount of Rs. 1,32,00,000/- was thus
added to the income of assessee under section 69 of the Act, 1961. However, the
Ld. CIT (A) reduced this addition on the basis that all the evidences available on
record by way of submissions made and documents what emerges the facts that
during the course of search evidences was found that the assessee made payments
to Shri Rampal Meena and Shri Narayanlal Meena as per this the assessee made Rs.
1 lakhs each to Shri Rampal Meena and Shri Narayan Meena 13/10/2003 and Rs. 32
lakhs each on 7/7/2004. Thus, the Ld. CIT(A) held that in the absence of any
evidence of payment having been made to this kastkars, over and above Rs. 66
lakhs this was to be taken for the final purchase amount paid to the kastkars. The
contention of the assessee is that , that the Ld. CIT(A) failed to appreciate the facts
in right perspective and construed the documents correctly which were recovered
during the course of search. Undisputed facts that emerges from the records that
the transaction relates to the same land which the assessee is claiming to have
purchased on behalf of M/s Vastu Land & Buildline Pvt. Ltd. and payments regarding
sale consideration of the same was made by the assessee. The claim of the
assessee is that this payments were received from M/s Vastu Land and Buildline Pvt.
Ltd. The assessing officer in the remand report stated that the payment to the
kastkars were made directly by the M/s Vastu Land & Buildline Developers Pvt. Ltd
and believed the version of M/s Vastu Land & Buildline Developers Pvt. Ltd. We find
that there are sufficient evidences on record which were recovered during the search
operation by the revenue, describes the transaction related to the same land
however, the documents so recovered are not believed by the assessing officer.
We are unable to understand as why the assessee would make payment of the same
land to the kastkars and the kastkars would execute the sales deeds in favour of the
company namely M/s Vastu Land & Buildline Developers Pvt. Ltd. The Ld. CIT(A)
has considered part documents as true and the rest of the documents as untrue.
We find that both the authorities have failed to decide the issue in right perspective.
The assessing officer has not confronted the assessee with the letter received from
the company. By no stretch of imagination it can be inferred that the kastkars would
received sale consideration for the same land from two different persons.
11.3. Under these facts, we are of the considered view that the issue requires fresh
consideration by the assessing officer on the basis of the material available on
record. He would also be free to make further enquiry from kastkars and M/s Vastu
land and Buildline Developers Pvt. Ltd. and the assessee would be given sufficient
opportunity to rebut the same . This ground of the assessee’s appeal is allowed for
statistical purposes.
Now, we take up ground no. 3 as we have already set aside the issue related
to addition on account of transaction of land to the file of the assessing officer for
afresh decision. This issue is also restored to the file of the assessing officer for
decision afresh.
Ground no. 4 is general in nature needs no separate adjudication.
In the result, ITA No. 909/JP/2013 is partly allowed for statistical purposes.
ITA No. 890/JP/2013
Now, we take up the revenue’s appeal in ITA No. 890/JP/2013. The revenue
has raised following grounds of appeal:
“1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the ld. CIT (A), Central, Jaipur has erred in deleting the addition of Rs. 66,00,000/- out of Rs. 1,32,00,000/- made by AO u/s 69 of the IT Act, for unaccounted payment for purchase of land.
The appellant craves the right to amend alter or add to any of the grounds of appeal given above.
The only effective ground is against deletion of addition of Rs. 66 lakhs out of
Rs. 1,32,00,000/-. The respective representatives of the parties have adopted the
argument as were made in respect of ground no. 2 to 3 in ITA 909/JP/2013. We
have decided this issue in part as under:
“We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material available record and gone through the orders of the authorities below. The assessing officer made addition on the basis that the payment of the land in consideration was made to kastkars by shri Ram Swaroop Meena from his unaccounted source much before receipt of Rs. 1.5 crores from M/s Vastu Land & Buildline Deveopers in the month of July to Oct. 2004. The source of this investment remain unexplained out of the total unaccounted payment Rs. 1,35,00,000/- a payment of Rs. 3 lakhs as advance has been added to the income of the assessee as an unexplained investment in the assessment year 2004-05. The balance amount of Rs. 1,32,00,000/- was thus edit to the assessee under section 69 of the Act, 1961. However, the Ld. CIT (A) reduced this addition on the basis that all the evidences available on record by way of submissions made and documents what emerges the facts that during the course of search evidences was found that the assessee made payments to Shri Rampal Meena and Shri Narayanlal Meena as per this the assessee made Rs. 1 lakhs each to Shri Rampal Meena and Shri Narayan Meena 13/10/2003 and Rs. 32 lakhs each on 7/7/2004. Thus, the Ld. CIT(A) held that in the absence of any evidence of payment having been made to this kastkars. Over and above Rs. 66 lakhs this was to be taken for the final purchase amount paid to the kastkars. The contention of the assessee is that , that the Ld. CIT(A)
fail to appreciate the facts in right perspective and construed the documents correctly which were recovered during the course of seach. Undisputed facts emerges that emerges from the records that the transaction relates to the same land which the assessee is claiming to have purchase on behalf of M/s Vastu Land & Buildline Pvt. Ltd. and payments regarding sale consideration of the same was made by the assessee. The claim of the assessee is that this paymers were receive from M/s Vastu Land and Buildline Pvt. Ltd. the assessing officer in the remand report as stated that the payment to the kastkars were made directly by the M/s Vastu Land & Buildline Developers Pvt. Ltd and believed the version of M/s Vastu Land & Buildline Developers Pvt. Ltd. We find that there is a sufficient evidence on record which were recorded during the search operation by the revenue. Describes the transaction related to the same land the documents so recovered are not believed by the assessing officer. We are unable to understand as why the assessee would make payment of the same land to the kastkars and the kastkars would execute the sales deeds in favour of the company namely M/s Vastu Land & Buildline Developers Pvt. Ltd. The Ld. CIT(A) has considered part documents as true and the rest of the documents as untrue. We find that both the authority have failed to decided the issue in right perspective. The assessing officer has not confronted the assessee with the letter received from the company. By no stretch of imagination it can be inferred that the kastkars would received sale consideration for the same land from two different persons. Under these facts, we are of the considered view that the issue require fresh consideration by the assessing officer on the basis of the material available on record. He would also be free to make further enquiry from kastkars and M/s Vastu land and Buildline Developers Pvt. Ltd. and the assessee would be given sufficient opportunity to rebut. This ground of the assessee’s appeal is allowed for statistical purposes.”
16.1. So, this issue is also restored to file of the assessing officer for decision
afresh. The ground raised in the revenue’s appeal is allowed for statistical purposes.
16.2. In the result appeal of the assessee in ITA No. 909/JP/2013 pertaining to
assessment year 2005-06 and appeal of the revenue in ITA No. 890/JP/2013
pertaining to the assessment year 2005-06 are partly allowed for statistical
purposes.
ITA No. 629/JP/2013
Now, we take up assessee’s appeal in ITA No. 629/JP/2013 pertaining to the
assessment year 2010-11. The assessee has raised following grounds of appeals :-
On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) has grossly erred in sustaining addition of Rs. 1,57,890/- as made on account of silver jewellery alleged as unexplained arbitrarily, thu the addition of Rs. 1,57,890/- deserves to be deleted.
1.1 That the Ld. CIT(A) has further erred in ignoring the fact that most of the jewellery was the ancestral jewellery of assessee’s family and was acquired more than 25 years back and looking to the social status of the family the addition uphold towards the entire silver jewellery/items owned by entire family deserves to be deleted.
On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Ld. CIT(A) has grossly erred in sustaining the addition of Rs. 16,99,974/- made on account of cash found during the course of search by holding the same as unexplained arbitrarily.
2.1.That the ld. CIT (A) has further erred in ignoring the fact that the cash belonging to other family members and is duly backed by the respective books of accounts have been accepted by same assessing authority in their assessments completed u/s 143(3) , thus the addition made towards the cash belonging to such family members deserves to be deleted at 13,45,923/-.
2.2.That the ld. CIT (A) has further erred in ignoring the fact that cash belonging to assessee and his wife at Rs. 3,54,051/- is duly recorded in books of accounts maintained in regular course and such books of accounts have not
been doubted by the ld. AO thus the addition of the cash belonging to assessee and his wife at Rs. 3,54,051/- deserves to be deleted.
2.3.That the ld. CIT (A) has further erred in placing reliance on the statements of the assessee recorded during the course of search by ignoring the fact that such admission has been rebutted by assessee with plausible explanation.
That the appellant craves the right to add, delete, amend or abandon any of the grounds of appeal either before or at the time of hearing of appeal.
Briefly, stated the facts are that, while framing the assessment the assessing
officer made addition of Rs. 28,40,000/- as unexplained investment, addition of Rs.
16,99,974/- on account of cash in hand in respect of five individuals and addition of
Rs. 15,10,567/- on account of investment in Jewellery. Aggrieved by this, the
assessee preferred an appeal before Ld. CIT(A) who after considering the
submissions partly allowed the appeal, thereby he deleted the addition of Rs.
28,40,000/-, sustained addition of Rs. 1,57,890/- out of addition of Rs. 15,10,567/-
and confirmed the addition of Rs. 16,99,974/-. Aggrieved by this, the assessee has
filed the present appeal.
Apropos to ground no. 1 to 1.1, ld. Counsel for the assessee reiterated the
submissions as made in the written submissions. The ld. Counsel for the assessee
submitted that during the course of search at the residential premises of the
assessee and his family member the total jewellery worth of Rs. 15,10,567/- was
found in terms of Annexure ‘JF’ dated 18/03/2010. The ld. Counsel submitted that
during the assessment proceedings assessee had explained that the investment in
Gold and Silver Jewellery was made by the assessee and their family member out of
withdrawal of remuneration from group company and also or their savings. The
investment in jewellery is duly recorded in their personal book of amount, he drew
our attention to (APB 52-55). The Ld. Counsel submitted that the Jewellery was
acquired by the assessee and his family member, at the time of their marriage and
other social functions. Which was solemnized almost 15 to 20 years back. Thus, the
entire jewellery is deserve to be hold as unexplained. He submitted that under thee
facts the authorities were justified in making the addition.
19.1. On the contrary, the Ld. Departmental Representative contrary opposed the
submission.
19.2. We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material available record
and gone through the order of the authorities below. The Ld. CIT(A) restricted the
addition to the extent of Rs. 1,57,890/- after giving benefit of CBDT’s instruction
dated 11/5/1994. We find that the Ld. CIT(A) has not considered this facts that thi
jewellery was acquired to 15 to 20 years ago. After considering totality of the facts
we therefore direct the assessing officer to delete the addition. Ground no. 1 to 1.1
of the assessee’s appeal is allowed.
Apropos to ground no. 2 to 2.3, the ld. Counsel for the assessee reiterated
the submission as made in the written brief. He submitted that the allegations of
the Ld. CIT(A) do not find force in view of the facts that the assessing officer
miserably failed to point out any defects in the cash book of the family member and
also failed to bring on record any contrary evidence/material to reject the cash book
so submitted or not acceptable or the source of cash balance appearing against
various individuals family members have not been satisfactorily explained. He
submitted that copy of balance sheet of the family member of the assessee as on
date of search mentioning cash balance on the date of search is in parity with the
cash found during the course of search. He drew our attention to paper book pages
52 to 56. He further submitted that cash balances belonging to other family
members amounting to Rs. 13,45,923/- is duly backed by the respective books of
accounts which have been accepted by the same authorities in their respective
assessment completely under section 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, wherein
return income was accepted thus cash balance appearing in their individual books on
account deserves to be accepted. He drew our attention to the paper book pages
60 to 69 where the assessment orders are enclosed. He further submitted that cash
belonging to assessee and his wife of Rs. 3,54,051/- was duly recorded in books of
account maintained in regular course and such books of accounts have not been
doubted in the case of assessee himself wherein the income declared as per book on
account was accepted. Thus cash belonging to assessee and his wife at Rs.
3,54,051/- deserves to be deleted.
20.1. On the contrary, Ld. Departmental Representative opposed the submissions
and supported the orders of the authorities below.
20.2. We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material available on
record. We find force into the contention of Ld. Counsel for the assessee when the
cash in hand has been duly accepted in the hands of individual family members.
Therefore, making the addition of the same amount in the hands of the assessee is
not justified. Accordingly, we hereby, direct the assessing officer to delete his
addition.
Ground no. 3 is general in nature needs no separate adjudication.
In the result, the appeal of the assessee in ITA No. 629/JP/2013 (pertaining
to the assessment year 2010-11) is allowed.
ITA No. 206/JP/2016:
Now, we take up the assessee’s appeal in the case of Shri Dinesh Meena in
ITA No. 206/JP/2016. The assessee has raised solitary ground as under:
“ The Assessing Officer and Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Alwar, Rajasthan erred in fact and law in making addition of Rs. 2,00,000/- received from Mohini Poonia as Advance for Sale of immovable assets without considering the facts submitted.”
The only ground is against the confirmation of addition of Rs. 2 lakhs.
Briefly stated the facts are that the assessing officer made addition of Rs. 2
lakhs on account of cash deposits in the bank account of the assessee. The
assessing officer rejected the explanation that money was received from Ms. Mohini
Punia. On further appeal before Ld. CIT(A) the addition came to be sustained. The
Ld. CIT(A) did not consider the evidences filed before him on the ground for want
of genuineness and the documents were not be relied. Aggrieved by this the
assessee is before this Tribunal.
24.1. Ld. Counsel for the assessee reiterated the submission as made in the written
submissions. The Ld. Counsel submitted that authorities below failed to make proper
enquiries. He submitted that no enquiry was made on the material furnished. He
submitted that the material evidence in the form of confirmation and evidence to
support the credit worthiness of the creditors was duly furnished. He further
submitted that the Ld. CIT (A) failed to appreciate that the money was returned
through banking channels. He submitted that merely because money is deposited as
cash deposits in the bank account should not be the sole ground for making
addition. The Ld. CIT(A) ought not to have brushed aside of the evidences of the
assessee.
24.2. On the contrary, ld. Departmental Representative opposed the submission
and supported the order of the authorities below.
24.3. We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material available on record
and gone through the orders of the authorities below. In this case, the assessing
officer made addition on the basis of cash deposits in the bank account. The
explanation before the assessing officer was that this amount of Rs. 2 lakhs was
taken or Ms. Mohini Punia and it was subsequently returned both the authority
below did not accept the contentions of the assessee. There is no dispute with
regard to the fact that the assessee furnished the evidences before the Ld. CIT(A) in
the form of confirmation agreement and the income tax returns. No enquiry was
made by the assessing officer even during the remand proceedings on these
evidences. In our considered view AO ought to have made enquiry when there was
specific confirmation by Ms. Mohini Punia. Moreover, there is an evidence on record
administrating that money was return to the Ms. Mohini Punia. There is debit entry
in the name of Ms. Mohini Punia in the bank’s statement of the assessee.
24.4. Under these facts, we are unable to sustain the addition, therefore we direct
the assessing officer to delete the addition. The grounds raised in the appeal is
allowed.
In the result, ITA No. 206/JP/2016 is allowed.
ITA NO. 598/JP/2015 & ITA No. 83/JP/2013
Now, we take up assessee’s appeal in ITA No. 598/JP/2015 & ITA No.
83/JP/2013 in the case of Shri Ram Karan Meena.
26.1. First, we take up assessee’s appeal in ITA No. 598/JP/2015. The assessee
ha raised following grounds of appeal.
“ 1. The Assessing Officer and Commissioner of Income tax (Appeals) Alwar, Rajasthan erred in fact and law in making addition of Rs. 184384.00 without considering the bank account withdrawals in cash as on 06.02.2003 amounting to Rs. 3,40,000.00.
The assessee reserves the right to add, alter, amend any grounds of appeal.
The only effective ground is sustaining the addition of Rs. 1,84,384/-. The
facts giving rise to this ground is that during the assessment proceedings the
assessee claim sum of Rs. 3,84,384/- as opening balance as on 1/4/2003. The AO
accepted the opening balance to the extent of Rs. 2 lakhs and balance in sum of Rs.
1,84,384/- was added to the income of the assessee. Against this, the assessee
preferred an appeal before Ld. CIT(A) who after considering the submissions
sustained the addition. Thus, the assessee is before this Tribunal by way of present
appeal.
27.1. The Ld. Counsel for the assessee submitted that finding of authority below is
patently wrong and its contrary to the material on record. He vehemently argued
that it was stated before Ld. CIT (A) that there was an withdrawal of sum of Rs.
3,40,000/- from the SB Account No. 3867 of the assessee held at Punjab National
Bank on 6/2/2003. This amount remained with assessee. In support of this
contention he drew our attention on page no. 14 where statement of bank account
is enclosed. He submitted that bare reading of the statement would demonstrate
that the authorities below were not justified in making addition and sustaining the
same.
27.2. On the contrary, the Ld. Departmental representative opposed the submission
of the assessee and supported the orders of the authorities below.
27.3. We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material available on
record. We find that a specific submission was made before the Ld. CIT(A) that a
sum of Rs. 3,40,000/- was available with the assessee in the form of bank
withdrawal. This fact is not disputed by the revenue. The Ld. CIT(A) rejected the
submission, on the basis that there was cash deposit and withdrawal from the bank
account on the same date. We find that this finding of Ld. CIT(A) is contrary to the
contents of the bank statement. As per the bank statement, there is an entry of
cash deposit on 20/1/2003 of Rs. 3,40,000/- and withdrawal of the same amount as
on 6/2/2003. Further, we find that there is no substantial cash deposits and withdrawal in the bank’s statement post 6th Feb. 2003. It is further noted that there
is an entry of deposits of Rs. 2,03,000/- on 22/5/2003 and the withdrawal of Rs.
2,03,000/- on same date which is post 1/4/2003. Under these undisputed facts we
are of the view that the assessing officer was not justified in making addition.
Accordingly, we direct the assessing officer to delete the addition.
ITA No. 83/JP/14
Now, we take up assessee’s appeal in ITA No. 83/JP/2014. The appeal is
directed against the order Ld. CIT(A), Central, Jaipur dated 1/11/2013. The
assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal.
”The assessing Officer and Commissioner of Income Tax(A) Central, Jaipur erred in fact and also by law in imposing penalty under Section 271D of the Income Tax Act on the following grounds:- (Annexure Attached)
The Assessee reserve the right to add, alter, amend any grounds of appeal.”
The only effective ground is against the confirmation of penalty under section 271D
of the Act.
The facts in brief are that the JCIT initiated penalty proceedings under section
271D pertaining to assessment year 2005-06. It was found that the assessee had
received advance/loans/deposits from Shri Ram Swaroop Meena in cash not through
account pay check or account pay draft on loan amount exceeding Rs. 20,000/-. It
was alleged that the total amount received was Rs. 12,06,000/- which was in
violation of section 269SS of the IT Act. Subsequently, the JCIT imposed a penalty
of Rs. 12,06,000/- vide order dated 25/6/2012. This order was assailed by the
assessee before Ld. CIT(A) who however sustained the penalty. Now, the assessee
is in further appeal before this Tribunal.
29.1. The ld. Counsel submitted that the authorities below failed to appreciate the
fact that there was no actual transfer of cash. Assessee merely booked entries, the
amount was neither loan nor deposit. He submitted that it was pleaded before
authorities below that the business was being carried out by the assessee and his
brothers. Therefore it was not actual transfer of cash. He submitted that such book
entries would not fall under the ambit of section 269SS of the Act, as such provisions
of section 271D of the Act would not be applicable. He placed reliance on various
case laws, more particularly on the judgment of the Hon’ble Gujarat High Court
rendered in the case of CIT Vs. Nartwarlal Purshottamdas Parekh (2008)303 ITR
5(Guj).
29.2. On the contrary, the ld. Departmental Representative opposed the
submissions and supported the reasoning of authorities below. He also placed
reliance on the Hon’ble Madras High Court rendered in the case of Kasi Consultant
Corporation Vs. DCIT (2009) 311 ITR 0419 (Mad.).
29.3. The Ld. AR also placed reliance on the judgment of the Hon’ble Andhra
Pradesh High Court rendered in the case of Gururaj Mini Roller Flour Mills Vs.
Additional CIT 370 ITR 50 (AP). The ld. AR also placed reliance on the decision of
the coordinate bench rendered in the case of Chandra Cement Ltd. Vs. Deputy
Commissioner of Income Tax (2000) 68 TTJ 35(JP-Trib).
29.4. We have heard the rival contentions and perused the material available
record. The contention of the assessee is that the provision of section 271D is not
applicable as the assessee has not taken loans or advances, it is mere book entry. It
is also stated that such book entry transfer was for the purpose of making
investment. It is also stated that the assessee was carrying on joint business with
his brothers. Therefore, this cannot be treated as loan and advances in strict sense.
The Hon’ble Andhra Pradesh High Court in the case of Gururaj Mini Roller Flour Mills
Vs. Additional CIT (supra) has held that if their exists reasonable cause for failure to
comply with section 271D and 271E or other related provisions, penalty need not be
imposed. It is further held that making book adjustment of the funds, by a firm vis-
a-vis its sister concern, can by no means be said to be the one taken in clear
violation or contravention of the said provisions. The coordinate bench in the case
of Chandra Cement limited Vs. Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax 68 TTJ(JP)35
observed that when one single individual is managing the affair of two concerns and
the decision to transfer the funds from one concern to another or to repay the
funds could have been said to have been largely influenced by the same individual, it
can not be said that transaction partake the nature of either deposit or loan. In the
present case the genuineness of the transaction is not doubted by the assessing
officer. Therefore, in the light of the judgment of the Hon’ble Andhra Pradesh High
Court in the case of Gururaj Mini Roller Flour Mills Vs. Additional CIT (supra) and
also the decision of the coordinate bench in the case of Chandra Cement Ltd. Vs.
Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax (supra), we are of the view that the
authorities below were not justified in confirming the penalty. Our this view is also
fortified by the judgment of the Hon’ble Gujarat High Court rendered in the case of
CIT Vs. Nartwarlal Purshottamdas Parekh (supra). Therefore, we direct the
assessing officer to delete the penalty. This ground of the assessee’s appeal is
allowed.
ITA No. 607/JP/2015
Now, we take up assessee’s appeal in ITA No. 607/JP/2015. The assessee
has raised following grounds of appeals :-
On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the ld. CIT (A) has grossly erred in upholding the action of ld. AO in treating the gross receipts of Rs. 3,51,055/- from hiring as unaccounted income by rejecting vehicle hiring business and thereby making an addition of Rs. 3,03,055/- [(3,51,055 – 48,000 (income already declared on account of vehicle hiring)] as Income from Other sources, arbitrarily without considering the submissions made and evidences adduced. Hence the addition of Rs. 3,03,055/- deserves to be deleted, more particularly when such income was duly declared in regular returns filed u/s 139(1) and no adverse evidence was found as a result of search leading to belief that assessee was not engaged in vehicle hiring business.
1.1. That the ld. CIT (A) has further erred in upholding the disallowance of the following expenses claimed out of vehicle hiring income arbitrarily considering the genuineness of the claim.
Particulars Amount Depreciation 1,51,560.00 Interest on car loan 63,632.00 Repairing and maintenance 7,860.00 Salary 60,000.00 Bank charges 20,003.00 Total 3,03,055.00
1.2. That the ld. CIT (A) has further erred in upholding the observation of ld. AO at page 2 of the assessment order that assessee during the course of assessment proceedings has not adduced any evidence in support of expenses claimed and AO has failed to appreciate the reply of the assessee in question No. 9 reproduced by the AO at same page wherein assessee has categorically mentioned about the loans taken on such vehicles. Hence the expenses so claimed deserves to be allowed and income be classified as earned from vehicle hiring business.
That the appellant craves the right to add, delete, amend or abandon any of the grounds of this appeal at the time or before the actual hearing of the case.
30.1. Only effective ground of this appeal is during the course of receipts of Rs.
3,51,355/- from hiring of vehicles business as unaccounted income from other
sources. It is stated by the representative of the parties that similar ground is raised
in ITA No. 908/JP/2013 pertaining to the assessment year 2004-05. Both the ld.
Departmental Representatives of the parties have adopted the same argument as
were addressed in ITA No. 908/JP/2013(supra).
30.2. We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material available on record
and gone through the order of the authorities below. We find that the assessee’s
appeal in ITA No. 908/JP/2013 has raised identical ground no. 1 to 1.4 wherein we
have decided the issue as under :-
““We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material available record and gone through the order of the authorities below. The claim of the assessee is that he was engaged in the business of plying vehicles on hiring. Admittedly, there is no supporting evidence which suggest that the assessee had carried out this activity. Another contention of Ld. Counsel for the assessee is that even if it is assumed that the vehicles were not used for business of hiring of vehicles even then the expenditure as claimed is allowable as the vehicles were used for business purposes. We find that no such claim was made before the authorities below. However, it was incumbent upon the assessee to support this claim with some evidence. Merely, stating that the vehicles were for business purposes, in our view, it would not be sufficient to allow the claim of the assessee. Therefore, in the absence of material evidences, the claim of the assessee can not be allowed. Thus these grounds of assessee’s appeal are dismissed.”
Therefore, taking the consistent view as facts are identical in this year also and no
change into the facts and circumstances have been pointed out by either of the
party. We hereby dismiss the appeal of the assessee.
In the result, appeal of the assessee is dismissed.
ITA NO. 608, 609 & 610/JP/2015 :
Now, we take up assessee’s appeals in ITA No. 608, 609 & 610/JP/2015.
Since common grounds are involved in all these appeals, we are disposing off all
these appeals together, for the sake of convenience. The grounds raised in these
appeals are same except change in figures, therefore, we reproduce the grounds
pertaining to Assessment Year 2007-08 in ITA No. 608/JP/2015 as under :-
On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the ld. CIT (A) has grossly erred in upholding the action of ld. AO in treating the gross receipts of Rs. 3,06,796/- from hiring as unaccounted income by rejecting vehicle hiring business and thereby making an addition of Rs. 2,22,796/- [(3,06,796 – 84,000 (income already declared on account of vehicle hiring)] as Income from Other sources, arbitrarily without considering the submissions made and evidences adduced. Hence the addition of Rs. 2,22,796/- deserves to be deleted, more particularly when such income was duly declared in regular returns filed u/s 139(1) and no adverse evidence was found as a result of search leading to belief that assessee was not engaged in vehicle hiring business.
1.1. That the ld. CIT (A) has further erred in upholding the disallowance of the following expenses claimed out of vehicle hiring income arbitrarily considering the genuineness of the claim.
Particulars Amount Depreciation 90,936.00 Interest on car loan 63,871.00 Repairing and maintenance 7,584.00 Salary 60,000.00 Bank charges 405.00 Total 2,22,796.00
1.2. That the ld. CIT (A) has further erred in upholding the observation of ld. AO at page 2 of the assessment order that assessee during the course of assessment proceedings has not adduced any evidence in support of expenses claimed and AO has failed to appreciate the reply of the assessee in question No. 9 reproduced by the AO at same page wherein assessee has categorically mentioned about the loans taken on such vehicles. Hence the expenses so claimed deserves to be allowed and income be classified as earned from vehicle hiring business.
That the appellant craves the right to add, delete, amend or abandon any of the grounds of this appeal at the time or before the actual hearing of the case.
32.1. Only effective ground of this appeal is during the course of receipts of Rs.
3,06,796/- from hiring of vehicles business as unaccounted income from other
sources. It is stated by the representative of the parties that similar ground is raised
in ITA No. 908/JP/2013 pertaining to the assessment year 2004-05. Both the ld.
Departmental Representatives of the parties have adopted the same argument as
were addressed in ITA No. 908/JP/2013(supra).
32.2. We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material available on record
and gone through the order of the authorities below. We find that the assessee’s
appeal in ITA No. 908/JP/2013 has raised identical ground no. 1 to 1.4 wherein we
have decided the issue as under :-
“We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material available record and gone through the order of the authorities below. The claim of the assessee is that he was engaged in the business of plying vehicles on hiring. Admittedly, there is no supporting evidence which suggest that the assessee had carried out this activity. Another contention of Ld. Counsel for the assessee is that even if it is assumed that the vehicles were not used for business of hiring of vehicles even then the expenditure as claimed is allowable as the vehicles were used for business purposes. We find that no such claim was made before the authorities below. However, it was incumbent upon the assessee to support this claim with some evidence. Merely, stating that the vehicles were for business purposes, in our view, it would not be sufficient to allow the claim of the assessee. Therefore, in the absence of material evidences, the claim of the assessee can not be allowed. Thus these grounds of assessee’s appeal are dismissed.”
Therefore, taking the consistent view as facts are identical in all these years also and
no change into the facts and circumstances have been pointed out by either of the
parties, we hereby dismiss all the appeals of the assessee.
In the result, all the appeals of the assessee are dismissed.
Order is pronounced in the open court on 28/02/2017.
Sd/- Sd/- ( HkkxpUn ½ ( dqy Hkkjr) ( BHAGCHAND) ( KUL BHARAT ) ys[kk lnL;@Accountant Member U;kf;d lnL;@Judicial Member Jaipur Dated:- 28/02/2016. Pooja/ आदेश की प्रतिलिपि अग्रेषित@ब्वचल वf जीम वतकमत वितूंतकमक जवरू
The Appellant- Shri Ram Swaroop Meena, Jaipur, Shri Ram Karan Meena, Jaipur and Shri Dinesh Meena, Jaipur.
The Respondent –The JCIT(OSD)/ACIT, Jaipur. 3. The CIT(A). 4. The CIT, 5. The DR, ITAT, Jaipur 6. Guard File (ITA No. 908 (11)/JP/2013) vkns'kkuqlkj@ By order,
सहायक पंजीकार@ Aेेपेजंदज. त्महपेजतंत