SURESH CHANDRA MITTAL,MUMBAI vs. ITO 25(1)(3),

Per D.T. Garasia, Judicial Member:

The assessee is a proprietor of M/s. Padam Enterprises engaged in trading in blank video cassettes and styled as M/s.Plus International. During the course of assessment proceedings, it was noticed that assessee has shown bogus purchases of Rs.35,22,553/- from 3 parties, as discussed in para 3 of the assessment order, from whom purchases were made during the year, was found to be appearing in the list of Hawala dealers who were engaged in providing bogus bills of purchases as found during the course of investigation conducted by DIT(lnv.), Mumbai and those parties were found to be black listed by Sales- tax department of Maharashtra Government. Notice under section 148 of the 2 M/s. Suresh Chandra Mittal Act was accordingly issued and assessment was completed treating the purchase from the said party as bogus and adding the whole amount of purchase to the total income of the assessee. The information, regarding bogus purchases made by assessee from abovementioned dealers, is received from Maharashtra Sales tax department through DGIT(INV) Mumbai which shows that an independent statutory authority responsible for sales tax revenue after detailed conclusive finding forwarded the said information. Further, the alleged bogus dealers have not filed any affidavit before sales tax appellate authority or Hon'ble Bombay High Court against the said findings. There are no such genuine legal proceedings undertaken by the said dealers. The Assessing Officer (hereinafter referred to as the AO) didn't proceed to make additions merely on the basis of information from the sales tax department as independent enquiry was conducted in the matter. However, summons u/s 131, Notice under section 133(6) of the Act issued to the parties concerned were returned back as unserved. Assessee failed to produce the parties and also did not provide the whereabouts of the said parties. Hence, ledger account of the assessee showing purchases from the said parties and confirmations from the said parties are self serving documents. There was no evidence such as lorry receipts regarding transportation of goods from the premises of vendor to the premises of assessee. Therefore, AO has made the addition on account of bogus purchases of Rs.35,22,553/- from three parties and AO has treated 12.5% of the said purchases as bogus purchases.

4. It is seen that the assessee had shown net profit rate at 2.13%. From the impugned order it is seen that the rate of net profit from assessment year 2001- 2002 to assessment year 2005-2006 ranged between 2.13 to 3.40%. In view of the fact that it has been amply established that the purchases recorded in the books of account from these three parties were bogus with a view to suppress the profit, now need to zero in on the correct rate of net profit which could be applied under these circumstances. Section 44AF, though not strictly applicable in this case, provides for 5% net profit rate on the total turnover. In our considered opinion, it will be just and fair if the net profit rate of 5% is applied on the goods sold which were allegedly purchased through these parties. On the conclusion of the hearing in this case, a proposal to this effect was made from the bench. Both the sides finally agreed to it. We hold that the net profit rate of 5% be applied. On the application of such net profit rate, the effective addition will be Rs.1,18,826 as follows:-

Purchase from these three parties Rs.42,99,845/- Conversion of purchase price into sale price Rs.45,14,837/- with profit rate of 5%. (42,99,845 / 100 x 105) Net profit (45,14,837 – 42,99,845) Rs. 2,14,992/-

Less : Net profit declared by the assessee (45,14,837 x 2.13 / 100)Rs. 96,166/- [Since the net profit rate declared by the assessee is 2.13%]

5. We, therefore, uphold the addition at Rs.1,18,826/- allowing relief of Rs.41,81,019/-. This ground is partly allowed.”

Order pronounced in the open court on 29.08.2017.