SMC INDU (JV),MUMBAI vs. ASST CIT 18(2), MUMBAI

O R D E R PER C.N. PRASAD (JM) 1. This appeal is filed by the assessee against the order of the Learned Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals)-33, Mumbai dated 23.03.2016 for the Assessment Year 2009-10 in sustaining the penalty levied u/s. 271(1)(c) of the Act.

(A.Y: 2009-10) M/s. SMC INDU (JV) element in the purchases @25% of total purchases and made addition. Assessee did not prefer any appeal and accepted the disallowance.

6. We have heard the rival submissions, perused the orders of the authorities below. In so far as the penalty levied on estimation of profit element on purchases is concerned, we are of the view that Assessing Officer had made only adhoc estimation of profit on certain purchases treated as unexplained expenditure. Assessing Officer did not doubt the sales made by the assessee from out of such purchases. Assessing Officer based on the decision of the Hon'ble Gujarat High Court in the case of CIT v. Simit P. Seth [356 ITR 451] estimated the profit element in such purchases at 12.5% and by reducing the Gross Profit already declared by the assessee. In the circumstances, we hold that there is no concealment of income or furnishing of inaccurate particulars as the profit element was determined by way of adhoc estimation. Coming to the interest, the assessee furnished complete details in the return of income and made a claim and simply because the claim is denied and cannot lead to furnishing of inaccurate particulars or concealment of income. No allegation by Assessing Officer that the assessee failed to disclose the particulars relating to its claim in the return of income. Thus we hold that there is no concealment of income or furnishing of inaccurate particulars of income. Thus we direct the Assessing Officer to delete the penalty levied u/s. 271(1)(c) of the Act.

“9. We have heard the rival parties and carefully considered material placed before us including the order of the authorities below. We find from the assessment order that the AO has made an addition of Rs.45,76,587/- being 5% on total purchases on estimated basis in order to bring the bogus purchases o tax on the basis of information received from the third party i.e. State Sales Tax Department and DDIT(Inv) V(I), Mumbai which was not challenged by the assessee before the FAA and attained finality. Thereafter the AO levied penalty u/s 271(1)( c ) of the Act on the ground that the assessee did not challenge the assessment order and accepted additions so made thereby accepting the concealment of income . We find from the record that the additions as made by the AO was a pure estimate and nothing concrete as to bogus purchases were brought on records by the AO by making any further enquiries or investigation. In our view the penalty can not be imposed where the additions are made on estimate basis. The Tribunal has considered an identical issue in the case of Deepak Popatlal Gala, in and vide order dated 27.3.2015, it has held as under:-

“10. The next issue relates to disallowance made out of purchases and assessed u/s 69C of the Act. We heard the parties and perused the record. The total purchase expenditure claimed by the assessee during the year under consideration was Rs.7,36,27,555/-. The AO noticed that the Sales Tax Department of Government of Maharashtra has listed out names of (A.Y: 2009-10) M/s. SMC INDU (JV) certain dealers, who were alleged to have been providing accommodation entries without doing actual business. The AO noticed that the assessee made purchases to the tune of Rs.38.69 lakhs from two parties named M/s Umiya Sales Agency Pvt Ltd and M/s Mercury Enterprises, whose names found place in the list provided by the Sales Tax Department. The AO placed full reliance on the enquiries conducted by Sales Tax Department in respect of the parties, referred above. Accordingly, the AO took the view that the purchases to the tune of Rs.38.69 lakhs have to be treated as unexplained expenditure. Accordingly, he assessed the same u/s 69C of the Act.

a) Ramesh Kumar and Co V/s ACIT in (AY-2010-11) dated 28.11.2014; b) DCIT V/s Shri Rajeev G Kalathil in (AY-2009-10) dated 20.8.2014; and c) Shri Ganpatraj A Sanghavi V/s ACIT in (AY-2009-10) dated 5.11.2014

In all the above said cases, the Co-ordinate Benches of the Tribunal has held that the AO was not justified in making the addition on the basis of statements given by the third parties before the Sales Tax Department, without conducting any other investigation. In the instant case also, the assessing officer has made the impugned addition on the basis of statements given by the parties before the Sales tax department. We notice that the ld.CIT(A) has taken note of the fact that no sales could be effected without purchases. He has further placed reliance on the decision rendered by Hon’ble Gujarat High Court in the case of CIT Vs. M.K. Brothers (163 ITR 249). He has further relied upon the decision rendered by the Tribunal in the cae of ITO Vs. Premanand (2008)(25 SOT 11)(Jodh), wherein it has been held that where the AO has made addition merely on the basis of observations made by the Sales tax dept and has not conducted any independent enquiries for making the addition especially in a case where the assessee has discharged its primary onus of and 6203/Mum/2013 7 showing books of account, payment by way of account payee cheque and producing vouchers for sale of goods, such an addition could not be sustained. The Ld CIT(A) has also appreciated the contentions of the assessee that he was not provided with an opportunity to cross examine the sellers, which is required to be given as per the decision of Hon’ble Kerala High Court in the case of Ponkunnam Traders (83 ITR 508 & 102 ITR 366). Accordingly, the Ld CIT(A) has deleted the impugned addition. On a careful perusal of (A.Y: 2009-10) M/s. SMC INDU (JV) the decision rendered by Ld CIT(A) would show that the first appellate authority has analysed the issue in all angles and applied the ratio laid down by the High Courts and Tribunals in deciding this issue. Hence, we do not find any reason to interfere with his order on this issue. “ We also find that in the following cases the Tribunal has taken similar view in some of the case that on the basis of third party evidence, addition made by the AO cannot be held as good law and deleted the addition which are as under: - a) Ramesh Kumar and Co V/s ACIT in (AY-2010-11) dated 28.11.2014; b) DCIT V/s Shri Rajeev G Kalathil in ITA No.6727/Mum/2012 (AY-2009-10) dated 20.8.2014; and c) Shri Ganpatraj A Sanghavi V/s ACIT in ITA No. 2826/Mum/2013 (AY-2009-10) dated 5.11.2014 10. In all the above said cases, the Co-ordinate Benches of the Tribunal has held that the AO was not justified in making the addition on the basis of statements given by the third parties before the Sales Tax Department, without conducting any other investigation. In the instant case also, the assessing officer has made the impugned addition on the basis of statements given by the parties before the Sales tax department. Considering the facts as discussed hereinabove, we are of the considered opinion that in view of the ratio in the various decisions as above penalty cannot be sustained. It is also a settled legal position of law that penalty cannot be levied wherein the assessment is made on estimation basis. Accordingly, we are inclined to uphold the order passed by the ld.CIT(A) by dismissing the appeal of the revenue.”

Order pronounced in the open court on the 28th September, 2018