LALITKUMAR M JAIN,MUMBAI vs. ITO 32(2)(1), MUMBAI

Shri Lalitkumar M Jain Accordingly, AO estimated profit of 12.5% on such bogus purchases and added the same in assessee’s income.

By the impugned order, CIT(A) confirmed the action of the AO against which assessee is in further appeal before me.

It was argued by learned AR that assessee has furnished quantitative details of the goods so purchased before the lower authorities and that AO has not rejected books of accounts and that it was only part of the purchase that were disputing by the AO. He further contended that assessee has already shown GP of 10.5% therefore, making further addition of 12.5% will be excessive and unreasonable looking into the nature of trade assessee was engaged.

I have considered rival contentions and carefully gone through the orders of the authorities below and found from record that the assessee is engaged in the business of trading in Iron and Steel under the name and style of M/s. Lalit Steel Industries. AO found that assessee has taken bills from 17 parties amounting to Rs.80,26,220/-. Accordingly Assessing Officer held that the above purchases are bogus and added Rs.10,03,278/- being the estimated profit at 12.5% of purchases from alleged hawala parties. During the course of assessment, AO has given full opportunity to the assessee to explain the genuineness of purchases but neither there was any response of notice issued by AO u/s.133(6) nor the suppliers were produced. Accordingly, AO estimated profit of 12.5% by assuming that assessee has made purchases but from the grey market. However, it was contention of learned AR that assessee has Shri Lalitkumar M Jain already shown GP of 10.5%, however, nowhere any documentary evidence was placed on record by learned AR to support its contention that GP shown by the assessee during the year under consideration was 12.5%. In the interest of justice, we restore the matter back to the file of the AO to verify the correctness of assessee’s contention with regard to GP of 10.5% having been shown by the assessee during the year under consideration. If the AO found that assessee has already shown GP of 10.5% then AO should restrict the addition to the extent of 10%. However, if the GP disclosed by assessee is found to be less than 10.5% then, we confirm the addition of 12.5% as made by the lower authorities.

In the result, appeal is allowed in part for statistical purposes.