DEVEN CHACHRA,NEW DELHI vs. DCIT, CIRCLE- 72(1), NEW DELHI

In both these appeals, the assessee has challenged disallowance under Section 2(22)(e) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 amounting to `2,84,87,233/- in assessment year 2011-12 and `6,37,55,557/- in assessment year 2012-13.

At the time of hearing before us, it is submitted by the learned counsel that the assessee is a major shareholder in the following companies :-

2 ITA-4209 & 4210/Del/2017 Sr.No. Name of company Nature of business Assessee shareholding (in %) i) Superior Films (P) Interest income and renting of 26.91 Ltd. property ii) Superior Clothing (P) Manufacturer and Exporter of 40.9 Ltd. readymade garments iii) Superior Crafts (P) Manufacturer and exporter of 30.51 Ltd. readymade garments iv) Satyam Autoserve Authorized dealer of Toyota 49 (P) Ltd. vehicle sales & service

That there were business transactions inter-se between these group companies, the details of which is given at page 1 of the assessment order for assessment year 2012-13. For ready reference, the same is reproduced below :-

That no money is paid by any of these companies to the assessee. However, the Assessing Officer has made huge additions for deemed dividend u/s 2(22)(e) while the fact remains that no loan is received by the assessee which can be treated as deemed dividend. He further stated that the transactions between M/s Superior Films (P) Ltd. and other group companies were business transactions because interest was duly charged by M/s Superior Films (P) Ltd. on the money

Learned DR, on the other hand, relied upon the orders of authorities below and he stated that since the assessee has substantial interest in the concerns which advanced the money and also the concerns which received the borrowed money, Section 2(22)(e) of the Act was clearly applicable. He relied upon the decision of learned CIT(A) in this regard and stated that learned CIT(A) has discussed this issue at length and has rightly sustained the addition on account of deemed dividend.

We have carefully considered the contentions of both the sides and perused the material placed before us. We find that at page 4 of the assessee’s written submissions, he has given a chart pointing out the interest income received by M/s Superior Films (P) Ltd. in the years under appeal as well as in the preceding and subsequent years. This chart gives the details of interest received from the group concern as well as others. For ready reference, the same is reproduced below :-

From the above, it is evident that M/s Superior Films (P) Ltd. is receiving substantial interest from the group concerns as well as others right from assessment year 2007-08 to 2016-17. From page 6 onwards of the written submissions, the assessee has given the transactions between M/s Superior Films (P) Ltd. and other group concerns, from which, it is evident that there were several transactions of the payment and receipt of the money during the years under appeal. Considering the totality of above facts, we have no hesitation to hold that M/s Superior Films (P) Ltd. used to advance the money for earning interest income to various concerns which included group concerns also. The advancing of money was a regular course of business for M/s Superior Films (P) Ltd., not only in the years under appeal but also in the preceding as well as subsequent years. In view of the above, we have no hesitation to hold that advancing of money by M/s Superior Films (P) Ltd. to the group concerns was during the course of normal course of advancing money for the purpose of earning interest.

In the case of Pradip Kumar Malhotra (supra), Hon'ble High Court of Calcutta has held as under :-

In Circular No.19/2017, paragraph 3, the CBDT has also held that trade advances, which are in the nature of commercial transactions would not fall within the ambit of the word ‘advance’ in Section 2(22)(e) of the Act. No contrary decision was brought to our knowledge.

In the case under consideration, the addition u/s 2(22)(e) is made in the case of an assessee who is an individual. Admittedly, no advance or borrowed money is received by the assessee from the concerns in which the assessee is a shareholder. There is a transaction of advancing of money by M/s Superior Films (P) Ltd. to the group concerns in the normal course of business. In view of the above decision of Hon’ble High Court of Calcutta as well as CBDT’s Circular, Section 2(22)(e) is not applicable in the facts of the case under appeal before us. We, therefore, respectfully following the above decision of Hon’ble High Court of Calcutta as well as CBDT’s Circular, delete the addition made u/s 2(22)(e) of the Act.

In the result, the appeals of the assessee are allowed. Decision pronounced in the open Court on 02.11.2017.