DCIT 14(1)(2), MUMBAI vs. BRIGHT POWER PROJECTS (INDIA) P. LTD, MUMBAI

719/Mum/2016 M/s. Bright Power Projects (India) Pvt. Ltd., 2. Common grievance of assessee and Revenue relates to addition made on account of bogus purchases. Assessee is also aggrieved for reopening of assessment.

Rival contentions have been heard and record perused.

The brief facts of the case are that the Sales Tax Authorities of Mumbai had carried out an investigation in those cases where there were defaults of VAT set off credits. During the course of investigation it was found that there were certain parties who were engaged in the business of issuing bills as per the requirement of the customer, no goods were transacted in these transactions and only bills were issued as per demand and requirement of the customer. These parties were surveyed by the Sales Tax Authorities and statements of the authorized persons were recorded. These persons had stated during interrogation that they had not supplied any material to their customers and had issued bills as per the desire and requirement of the customers. This information was passed on by the Sales Tax Authorities to the Investigation Wing of Income Tax Dept., Mumbai which in turn had segregated the A.O. wise information and had forwarded the same for necessary action. In the instant case, information of persons claimed to be assessee's suppliers was received from the Maharashtra Sales tax department indicating that purchases shown to have been made by the assessee from seven parties were not genuine. After having observation at page 2 para 4, AO 719/Mum/2016 M/s. Bright Power Projects (India) Pvt. Ltd., estimated gross profit of 17.74% on the alleged purchases of Rs.1,11,50,980/- and added the same in assessee’s income.

By the impugned order, CIT(A) has upheld the reopening and estimated profit of 12.5% by relying on the decision of the Gujarat High Court in case of Simit P Sheth 256 ITR 451. Against the above order of CIT(A), both assessee and Revenue are in appeal before us.

It was argued by learned AR that assessee has filed all the documentary evidence before the lower authorities to prove the genuineness of purchases. He further contended that gross profit shown by the assessee during the year was 17.74%, therefore, making further addition by disallowing bogus purchases at 12.50% was not justified. He further contended that the GP shown by the assessee in respect of regular purchases vis-à-vis alleged purchases were same and that it is not the case of the Department that assessee had shown lower GP in respect of the sales made out of goods purchased from alleged bogus suppliers.

Learned AR further submitted that ld.CIT(A) by relying on the decision of Gujarat High Court in the case of CIT Vs. Simit Sheth (2013) [38 taxmann.com 385 (Guj. HC)] had held that 12.5% of the alleged bogus purchases shall be disallowed.

It was also submitted that the facts of instant case is distinguishable from the facts of decisions relied upon by the Id. CIT(A) as under:

Our attention was also invited to the copy of decision in case of Suman Gupta in order dated 23/08/2017, wherein under similar facts and circumstances disallowance to the extent of 2% of the alleged bogus purchases was upheld.

Reliance was also placed on the following decisions in support of the contention that simply based on the information from Sales Tax department, AO cannot make addition without making further investigation to substantiate his allegation of bogus purchase. In all the said case law, It has been held that if assessee has provided quantitative details and if sales are not doubted by AO, then addition cannot be sustained only because of non-appearance of supplier before the AO.  M/s. Imperial Imp & Exp vs. ITO (ITA No.5427/Mum/2015)[Mum.ITAT]  ACIT vs. Mahesh K Shah (ITA No.5194/Mum/2014)[Mum ITAT]  Rajesh P Soni vs. ACIT [100 TTJ 892](2006)(Ahd. Trib)

On the other hand, learned DR relied on the order of the AO and contended that he has very reasonably made addition by estimating profit at 17.74%.

We have considered rival contentions and carefully gone through the orders of the authorities below. We have also gone through the judicial pronouncements cited before us as well as relied on by lower authorities in their respective orders. From the record, we found that assessee is engaged in the business of electric contractor. On the basis of information from Sales Tax department, AO reopened the assessment. Before the AO, assessee had submitted quantitative details of material purchased and corresponding sales details. It was also submitted that payments were made by way of account paying cheques. The bank statements highlighting the payments so made were also submitted to the Id. AO. With regard to transportation documents, it was submitted that assessee does not take inventory nor handle logistics and follow Just In Time (JIT) Methodology. However, AO did not agree with assessee’s contention and added 17.74% of alleged purchase in assessee’s income.