THE DY. CIT- 2(1), RAIPUR (CG) vs. SHRI ARUN SINGHANIA, RAIPUR (CG)

Brief facts of the case are that in this case search and seizure action u/s 132 of the Act was conducted and the case was taken up for scrutiny. Accordingly, notice u/s 153 of the Act was issued directing the assessee to file the return of income for the assessment year under consideration within 30 days from the date of receipt of the notice. In response thereof the assessee filed its return of income declaring the total income of Rs. 37,38,200/-. In response to the notices u/s 143 (2) and 142 (1) the authorized representative (AR) of the assessee attended the proceedings and furnished the information/details called for by the AO. The assessee had shown agriculture income of Rs. 61,73,604/-. The assessee was accordingly asked to explain and furnished details to substantiate his claim. The AR contended that the assessee had sold timber worth Rs. 83,08,910/during the year relevant to the assessment year under consideration and after deducting the expenses incurred earned net agricultural income of Rs. 61,73,604/-. However, the AO rejected the contention of the assessee holding that the assessee has not filed any details of sales of timber as well as the details of expenses and made addition of Rs. 83,09,910/- under the head ‘income from other sources and determined the total income of Rs. 1,20,47,110/-.

The assessee aggrieved by the assessment order challenged the same before the Ld.CIT (A). The Ld.CIT (A) after hearing the assessee allowed the appeal of the assessee and deleted the addition made by the AO. The revenue is in appeal against the findings of the Ld. CIT (A). The revenue has challenged the impugned order passed by the Ld. CIT(A) on the following effective ground:- 1. “Whether in law and on facts & circumstances of the case, the Learned CIT (A) has erred in deleting the addition of Rs. 83,08,910/- made by the AO treating the same as income from other sources instead of Agricultural Income.

The order of the Ld. CIT (A) is erroneous both in law and on facts.”

Before us, the Ld. departmental representative (DR) relying on the assessment order submitted that the Ld. CIT (A) has erred in deleting the addition of Rs. 83,08,910/- made by the AO treating the same as agriculture income. The Ld. DR further submitted that since the assessee had not filed any details regarding sale of timbers or expenses incurred the AO has rightly rejected the contention of the assessee and made addition treating the said amount in question as income from other sources.

On the other hand, the Ld. counsel for the assessee submitted that the Since, the AO has failed to appreciate the evidence on record, the Ld. CIT(A) has rightly deleted the addition. The Ld. counsel invited our attention to the written submission made by the assessee during the course of assessment proceedings which reveals that the assessee has furnished the details called for, along with the written submission. In view of the aforesaid facts, the Ld. counsel submitted that the order passed by the Ld. CIT(A) is in on the basis of evidence on record and in accordance with the principles of law.

We have heard the rival submissions and carefully perused the material placed before us. The only grievance of the revenue is that the Ld. CIT(A) has wrongly deleted the addition made by the AO. The Ld. CIT(A) has deleted the addition holding as under: “6.10 Looking to the facts and circumstances of the case as also decisions cited above, I am convinced that the A.O. has made the addition merely on suspicion and surmises unsubstantiated on the strength of cogent evidence against the appellant, particularly, when the amount and nature of income declared is getting substantiated by the documentary evidences.”

Heaving gone through the evidence on record in the light of the rival submissions of the parties, we are convinced that the findings of the Ld. CIT(A) are based on the evidence on record. The Ld. CIT(A) has mentioned in its order that the assessee has submitted the details to substantiate his claim. The relevant para of the of the CIT(A)’s order reads as under: