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Facts
The assessee, a proprietor of Rajendra Enterprises dealing in diamonds and precious stones, had his case reopened under Section 147. The Assessing Officer (AO) sought to tax the profit embedded in alleged bogus purchase transactions. The AO initially made an addition of 25% of the total non-genuine purchases. The CIT(A) restricted this addition to 4% based on a High Court ruling.
Held
The Tribunal held that the issue was covered by the decision of the Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court of Bombay in the case of Mohmmad Haji Adam & Co. The High Court's decision stated that additions should be restricted to bring the gross profit rate on purchases to the same rate as other genuine purchases. Since the assessee claimed a gross profit rate of 4%, the Tribunal found no reason to interfere with the CIT(A)'s findings.
Key Issues
Whether the CIT(A) was justified in restricting the addition for bogus purchases, and if the assessee is a beneficiary of accommodation entries.
Sections Cited
147, 143(3), 143(3) r.w.s. 147
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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “D” BENCH MUMBAI
Before: SHRI SATBEER SINGH GODARA & SHRI GIRISH AGRAWAL
PER GIRISH AGRAWAL, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER:
This appeal filed by the Revenue is against the order of Ld. CIT(A)- 47, Mumbai, vide order no. ITBA/APL/M/250/2023- 24/1060113134(1), dated 25.01.2024, against the assessment order passed by the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle – 19(3), Mumbai, u/s. 147 r.w.s. 143(3) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter
Grounds taken by the Revenue are reproduced as under:
“Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld.CIT(A) is justified in restricting the addition made by the A.O. without appreciating the fact that assessee is one of the beneficiary of accommodation entry provided by Bhanwarlal Jain Group concerns exclusively engaged in the business of issuing nere genuine purchase bills? 2. Whether on the facts and in law, the Ld.CIT(A) has failed to uphold the decision of Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of N.K. Proteins Ltd. Vs. DCIT in SLP(Civil) No.769/2017 dated 16.01.2017 where 100% of addition was confirmed by the Apex Court 3. "Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld. CIT (A) is justified in restricting the addition to 12.5% without considering the evidential value of the statement on oath which clearly indicates payments made under the gurb of bogus purchases & assessee is beneficiary of accommodation entry ?" "The appellant craves leave to add, alter, amend, delete and/or vary any of the above grounds of appeal/relief claimed at any time before the decision of the appeal"
Brief facts of the case are that assessee is a proprietor of M/s. Rajendra Enterprises, engaged in the business of processors, exporters & dealers of diamonds and other precious and semi precious stones. Assessee filed his return of income on 23.09.2011 reporting total income at Rs.67,76,392/-. Case of the assessee was re-opened u/s.147 owing to search and survey action carried out by the Department in the case of Mr. Bhanwarlal Jain Group. In the course of assessment, assessee was asked to substantiate the purchase transactions carried out by him with M/s. Millenium Stars and M/s. Mohit Enterprises which were alleged to be belonging Mr. Bhanwarlal Jain Group. Ld. Assessing Officer asked the assessee to furnish supporting documents for purchases made from the parties along with supporting documents for corresponding sales affected by the assessee. Assessee furnished certain details in compliance to the notices issued by the ld. Assessing Rajendra S Karnavat, AY 2011-12 Officer. Ld. Assessing Officer concluded that it is only the profit embedded in the alleged bogus purchase transaction which needs to be taxed. He thus, arrived at a percentage of 25% of the total non-genuine purchases to add it to the total income of the assessee as profit earned from such purchases which amounted to Rs. 1,96,00,944/-. Assessment was thus completed u/s. 143(3) r.w.s. 147 of the Act.
Aggrieved, assessee went in appeal before the ld. CIT(A), who after considering the details and documents on record and further explanations furnished by assessee, took 4% as the gross profit rate on the alleged bogus purchases which was added in the hands of the assessee by taking into account the observations of Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court of Bombay in the case of Mohmmad Haji Adam & Co. in of 2016. Thus, the addition was sustained to the extent of 4% of alleged bogus purchase transaction, vide a corrigendum dated 05.02.2024 to the appellate order dated 25.01.2024, against which Revenue is in appeal before the Tribunal.
We have heard both the parties and taken note of the facts narrated above. The issue before us is squarely covered by the decision of Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court of Bombay in the case of Mohmmad Haji Adam & Co. (supra). Hon'ble High Court had held to restrict the addition to the extent of bringing the gross profit rate on purchases at the same rate of other genuine purchases. In the present case, assessee has claimed that he had earned gross profit rate of 4%. Accordingly, respectfully following the decision of Hon’ble Jurisdictional High Court of Bombay in the case of Mohammed Haji Adam & Co.(supra), we do not find any reason to interfere in the factual findings of the ld. CIT(A). Thus, grounds taken by the Revenue are dismissed.
Order pronounced on day of 27 September, 2024 under Rule 34 of The Income Tax (Appellate Tribunal) Rules, 1963