RUPALI AUM ENTERTAINMENT P.LTD,MUMBAI vs. ASST CIT CIR 11(1), MUMBAI

These are the appeals filed by assessee against the order of CIT(A)-4, Mumbai dated 04/07/2016 for A.Y.2011-12 & 2012-13 in the matter of order passed u/s.143(3) of the IT Act. Common issue in both the years relate to addition made on account of bogus purchases.

We have gone through the orders of the authorities below and found that in the A.Y.2011-12, AO disallowed Rs.60,96,636/- as bogus expenses based on information from Sales-tax Department. According to the Assessing Officer, an information was received from the office of the DGIT(lnv.), Mumbai letter dated 26.12.2012 regarding "Hawala Parties" who have issued bogus bills to the various parties. Out of these parties, 2 parties namely; M/s. Deep Enterprises and M/s. Darshan Sales Corporation have issued sales bills of Rs.39,16,269/- and of Rs.21,80,367/-, respectively. Therefore, assessee was asked to explain as to why such expenses shown should not be disallowed. Further, according to the Assessing Officer, summons u/s.131 of the I.T. Act, 1961 were issued to these 2 parties and Inspector was deputed to serve the summons. But Inspector has reported that both are not available at their given address. 5. It was contention of learned AR that the assessee had purchased materials from these ponies for use in production of the film Rascal. These purchases were supported by invoices. The entire expense was included in the work-in-progress in respect of the film Rascal which was released in the subsequent year i,e. A V-2012-13. The assessee had not claimed these expenses in the accounts for A V-2011-12.Therefore, there was no justification for making this disallowance.

We find that the bogus purchase was not claimed as expenditure during the year under consideration, therefore the CIT(A) has correctly held that no disallowance can be made in the year under consideration. However, he has reduced the work-in-progress by the amount of alleged bogus purchase. It was argued by learned AR that in the A.Y.2012-13, the assessee withdrew the claim to the extent of Rs.26,88,202/- by filing a revised computation before the AO. Only the balance amount of Rs.34,08,434/- (Rs.60,96,636-Rs.26,88,202) could be disallowed in A.Y.2012-13. Accordingly we direct the AO to reduce the income by the amount of bogus purchase only in the year when these are claimed as expenses. Accordingly, we direct the AO to verify assessee’s claim of withdrawal and restrict the addition only to the extent of Rs.34,08,434/- after verification. We direct accordingly.

In A.Y. 2011-12 the assessee has also aggrieved for disallowance of 5% of expenditure incurred on costume, food & snacks, etc. We find that after observing that the expenditures are not properly vouched and some of the expenses are personal in nature, the AO had made disallowance of 25% which was reduced by the CIT(A) to the extent of 5%. It was contention of learned AR that no disallowance could be made on personal account because the assessee was a company (Sayaji Iron & Engg. Co.

We have considered rival contentions and found that disallowance has been made both on account of personal use as well as absence of supporting vouchers. The disallowance of 25% so made by the AO has been reduced by the CIT(A) to the extent of 5%. Keeping in view totality of facts and circumstances of the case, we direct the AO to restrict disallowance to the extent of 2%, in so far as there is no personal element in case of assessee being a corporate entity. We direct accordingly.

Assessee is also aggrieved for disallowance of Rs.1,00,80,257/- out of interest expense on the plea that borrowed funds have not been used for the purpose of business. From record we find that out of the total interest expenditure of Rs.1,39,88,700/- the assessee has utilised Rs.27.94%, i.e. Rs.39,08,443/- for current year production of movies. As per the findings of the AO 4.17% of the advance is to be disallowed. On the basis of the findings given the AO reached to the conclusion that expenses of Rs.39,08,443/- is to allowed for the current year and the balance amount of Rs.1,00,80,257/- is to allowed in the year when the films are sold/released. It was the contention of the assessee that the amount was taken for the purpose of business and the amount was actually utilised for production of films. It was stated that this film was M/s. Rupali Aum Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., released and expenses relating to this film were claimed as deduction. Interest expense pertaining to this film was Rs.81,65,181/-. This expense was also claimed as deduction. In addition to these two amounts/ the assessee had borrowed money for production of the film Rascal. Interest on such loan was Rs.22,49,408/-. The expenses incurred on this film were shown as work-in-progress in view of the provisions of Rule-9A of the I.T. Rules. Thus, the assessee had incurred total interest expense of Rs.l,62,38,107/-. The total interest debited to the profit and loss account is Rs.1,39,88,700/-. It was held that 27.94% of funds were utilized for production of movies for the year, 4.17% for the advances and balance 67.89% for picture under production. Out of the interest expense of Rs.1,39,88,700/- interest to the extent of 27.94% i.e. Rs.39,08,443/- was to be allowed. Expenses of Rs.5,83,329/- being 4.17% was to be disallowed. The balance amount to Rs.94,96,928/- was to be allowed in the year in which the film under production was sold/released. Thus disallowed an amount of Rs.1,00,80,257/- (Rs.94,96,928/- + Rs.5,83,329/-) out of the interest expense claimed. The learned AO has not appreciated the facts of the case and the provisions of section 36 (1) iii) of the I T Act properly. The Income Tax Act has specific provision for allowance of deduction for interest expense in section 36(1) (iii) of the I T Act. Provisions of this section which are specific will override the provisions of section 37(1) which is a residual section.

The assessee is also aggrieved by the action of the CIT(A) in sustaining the disallowance of Rs.35,50,399/- made under Section 40(a)(ia) of the Act. We have considered rival contentions and carefully gone through the records and found that total disallowance of Rs.66,89,079/- made by the AO u/s.40(a)(ia).

By the impugned order CIT(A) deleted the disallowance of Rs.8,82,149/- being payment on which no TDS was made and also confirmed the disallowance of Rs.26,68,250/- because TDS made was not deposited in the Government account. From the details so placed on record, we observe that principle amount of interest expenditure has been disallowed under Rule 9A. Thus, in so far as interest has already been disallowed under Rule 9A, no further disallowance of the same amount is warranted u/s.40(a)(ia). Accordingly, we restore this issue back to the file of the AO with a direction to reduce the disallowance by the amount of interest which has already been disallowed under Rule 9A.

In the result, appeal is allowed in part.

In the appeal for A.Y. 2012-13 the grievance of the assessee relates to disallowance of Rs.1,54,454/- out of an amount of Rs.7,72,274/- on account of personal Account without appreciating that the assessee is a corporate entity and there can be no personal element. From the record we find that the assessee has incurred expenditure for the purpose of business, there was no personal element, looking to the nature of expenditure so incurred and claimed and the fact that assessee company is a corporate entity, we do not find any justification for disallowance of the expenditure on the allegation of personal. Accordingly we direct the AO to delete the disallowance.

In the result, the appeals are allowed in part as indicated herein above, whereas appeal of the Revenue is dismissed.