Facts
The assessee accepted cash deposits totaling Rs. 8,47,900/- from 10 individuals. The assessee claimed these funds were for applications for liquor licenses and that the individuals lacked bank accounts, using the assessee's account to facilitate demand drafts. When the license applications were unsuccessful, the money was repaid. The Revenue contended that this was a loan or deposit accepted in cash, violating Section 269SS of the Income Tax Act.
Held
The Tribunal noted that the assessee's explanation was not fully substantiated, particularly regarding the cash repayment and the lack of bank accounts for the depositors. The bench found the facts presented to be cryptic and potentially misleading, indicating a need for further verification. The Tribunal decided to remand the matter back to the Assessing Officer for a detailed inquiry into the genuineness of the transactions and the specific circumstances of the cash transfers.
Key Issues
Whether the cash deposits accepted by the assessee constituted a loan or deposit in contravention of Section 269SS, thereby attracting penalty under Section 271D, and whether the explanation provided by the assessee was bonafide and reasonable.
Sections Cited
271D, 271E, 269SS, 269T, 143(3)
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, JAIPUR BENCHES, “SMC” JAIPUR
Before: SHRI SANDEEP GOSAIN, JM & SHRI RATHOD KAMLESH JAYANTBHAI, AM vk;dj vihy la-@ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JPR/2024
आयकर अपीलीय अधिकरण] जयपुर न्यायपीठ] जयपुर IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, JAIPUR BENCHES, “SMC” JAIPUR Jh lanhi xkslkbZ] U;kf;d lnL; ,oa Jh jkBkSM deys’k t;arHkkbZ] ys[kk lnL; ds le{k BEFORE: SHRI SANDEEP GOSAIN, JM & SHRI RATHOD KAMLESH JAYANTBHAI, AM vk;dj vihy la-@ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JPR/2024 fu/kZkj.k o"kZ@Assessment Year : 2011-12 cuke Prem Singh Saini Addl. CIT, Vs. 15/5 Duplex Colony New Housing Sikar Board, Shivsingpura Sikar, Sikar LFkk;h ys[kk la-@thvkbZvkj la-@PAN/GIR No.: BIAPS 9302 L vihykFkhZ@Appellant izR;FkhZ@Respondent fu/kZkfjrh dh vksj ls@ Assessee by : Sh. P. C. Parwal, CA jktLo dh vksj ls@ Revenue by : Smt. Monisha Choudhary, Addl. CIT lquokbZ dh rkjh[k@ Date of Hearing : 28/08/2024 mn?kks"k.kk dh rkjh[k@Date of Pronouncement: 09/09/2024 vkns'k@ ORDER
PER: RATHOD KAMLESH JAYANTBHAI, A.M.
These two appeals filed by the assessee aggrieved from the order of the National Faceless Appeal Centre, Delhi [ for short NFAC/ CIT(A) ] both relates to the assessment year 2011-12 dated 14.05.2024, which in turn arises from the penalty order passed by the Addl. CIT, Sikar Range, Sikar passed under Section 271D &
2 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT 271E of the Income tax Act, 1961 (in short 'the Act') dated
26.08.2015 & 27.02.2015 respectively.
Since the issues involved in these appeals are almost
identical on facts and are almost common, except the difference in
figure of penalty and charge under the different section of the Act.
Therefore, these appeals were heard together with the agreement
of both the parties and are being disposed off by this consolidated
order.
At the outset, the ld. AR has submitted that the matter in ITA
No. 951/JP/2024 may be taken as a lead case for discussions as
the issues involved in the lead case are common and inextricably
interlinked or in fact interwoven and the facts and circumstances of
other cases are identical except the difference in the amount of
levy of penalty and the default of the other section of the Act. The
ld. DR did not raise any specific objection against taking that case
as a lead case.
Therefore, for the purpose of the present discussions, the
case of ITA No. 951/JP/2024 is taken as a lead case. Based on the
3 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT above arguments we have also seen that for these appeals
grounds are similar, facts are similar, and arguments were similar
and therefore, were heard together and are disposed by taking
lead case facts, grounds, and arguments from the folder in ITA No.
951/JP/2024.
Before moving towards the facts of the case we would like to
mention that the assessee has assailed the appeal in ITA No.
951/JP/2024 on the following grounds;
“1. The Ld. CIT(A), NFAC has erred on facts and in law in confirming the levy of penalty of Rs. 8,47,900/- u/s 271D of the Act. 2. The appellant craves to alter, amend & modify any ground of appeal. 3. Necessary cost be awarded to the assessee.”
The fact as culled out from the records is that the Additional
Commissioner of Income Tax, Sikkar Range, Sikar was informed
by the Income Tax Officer, Ward-1, Sikar that the assessee had
accepted total cash deposits of Rs. 8,47,900/- in his bank account
as detailed here in below :
4 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT
As the assessee has accepted the cash deposit of Rs. 8,47,900/- in
contravention of the provision of section 269SS. Accordingly,
assessee was issued show cause notice on 30.07.2015 to explain
why penalty u/s. 271D of the Act may not be imposed for
contravention of provisions of section 269SS.
To this effect notice was issued on 07.08.2015 to file
explanation and evidence. In response the assessee has filed a
written submission dated 19.08.2015 in which the assessee has
stated that amount of Rs. 8,47,900/- deposited in his bank account
was not loan from other persons but the amount belonged to
different persons who had deposited the same in his bank account
for purpose of purchasing Demand Draft as tender amount in
respect of their applications for allotment of liquor license by Excise
Department and since the license was not allotted, the amount was
5 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT repaid to such depositors. Assessee's contention is that the
amount did not represent any loan or deposit as the same
belonged to other persons all the time and his bank account only
was used by these persons. Assessee was asked to file evidence
in support to his claim/plea taken in his written reply dated
19.08.2015. The next date for hearing was fixed on 26.08.2015. On
this date the assessee appeared and stated that he has no
evidences or further submission to file.
The explanation submitted by the assessee is not found to be
satisfactory in absence of supporting evidences. Admittedly the
amount of Rs.8,47,900/- represented cash deposited in assessee's
bank account by different persons as mentioned in para 1 above.
Prima facie the amount lying in assessee's bank account belongs
to the assessee, the source of which is explained to be the amount
received from different persons. The assessee has failed to
produce any satisfactory evidence to substantiate his claim that the
amount deposited in his bank account was owned by these
depositors and used by them for their own purpose and that his
account was merely used as a facilitating mechanism to help such
depositors. Therefore the deposit of Rs.8,47,900/- represents loan
6 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT or deposit in the name of different persons and as such loan or
deposit was accepted by the assessee in cash, provisions of
Section 269SS of the Act have been contravened. As per section
271D, if a person takes or accepts any loan or deposit in
contravention of provisions of section 269SS, he shall be liable for
penalty. Having considered the explanation filed by the assessee
and the provisions of section 269SS and section 271D. The
assessee liable for penalty u/s 271D.
Aggrieved from the order of Additional Commissioner of
Income Tax, Sikar Range, Sikar levying the penalty u/s. 271D of
the Act, assessee preferred an appeal before the ld. CIT(A).
Apropos to the grounds so raised the relevant finding of the ld.
CIT(A) is reiterated here in below:
“5. Decision:- I have gone through any duly considered the grounds of appeal raised by the appellant, penalty order of the AO, written submission of the appellant and other facts of the case available on the record. 5.1. The appellant is an individual and during the FY 2010-11 relevant to the AY 2011-12, the appellant accepted the amount of Rs.8,47,900/- otherwise than by way of account payee cheques thereby violating the provisions of section 269SS of the Act. Therefore the AO levied the penalty of Rs.8,47,900/- u/s 271D of the Act on 26/08/2015 for violation of provisions of section 269SS of the Act. 5.2. Section 269SS of the Act prevents any assessee from acceptance of loan/deposits otherwise than by way of an account payee cheque or other banking channels. Violation of provisions of section 269SS of the
7 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT Act attract the levy of penalty u/s 271D of the Act for an amount equal to the amount of loan/deposit accepted by mode other than those specified in section 269SS of the Act. In view of the facts narrated above, the appellant accepted an amount of Rs.8,47,900/- in cash in violation of provisions of section 269SS of the Act and hence the AO levied the penalty u/s 271D of the Act for an amount of Rs.8,47,900/-. 5.3. During the appellate proceedings, the appellant claimed that he accepted the deposits from 10 persons in order to apply for liquor license with the Excise Department and utilized such amount to draw Demand Draft in favour of excise Department. He further claimed that all these persons were not having any bank account and hence he used his bank account to deposit the cash received and then draw the demand drafts. After the procedure of liquor license was completed, the appellant received back the impugned demand drafts from the Excise Department and he claimed to have repaid the amount to these 10 persons in cash after cancellation of demand drafts. It is very much hard to believe that the persons interested in doing liquor business were not having any bank account and hence the appellant accepted & repaid the amount form these persons in cash. Thus the appellant accepted the amounts in cash without any reasonable cause. Therefore I do not find any excuse to take a divergent view from the view of the AO. Hence I uphold the order of the AO wherein the penalty u/s 271D of the Act for an amount of Rs.8,47,900/- was levied. Accordingly, all the grounds of appeal are dismissed. 6. In a result, the appeal is dismissed.”
As the assessee did not find any favors from the order so
passed by the ld. CIT(A) the appeal has been preferred the present
appeal before this tribunal on the grounds as reproduced here in
above. The ld. AR appearing on behalf of the assessee has placed
his written submission to support the grounds so raised and written
submission reads as follows :
The assessee is a salaried employee working in an insurance company as sales manager. During the year assessee’s wife, his friends and close
8 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT
relatives decided to apply for liquor license with Abkari Department. Since these persons were not having the bank account, they used the assessee’s bank account whereby the cash amount received of Rs.8,47,900/- from 10 persons was deposited in the bank account of assessee for making the demand draft in favour of Abkari Department. The details of these persons along with the amount of Demand Draft made are as under:-
S. Name of Person/ Amount Details of Demand Drafts No. Depositor received (in Rs.) Date DD No. Amount (in Rs.)
Vinod Kumar S/o 90,000/- 22.02.2011 806/831, 833/821 85,800/- Sh. Prahalad Rai
Dhanna Lal S/o 90,000/- 24.02.2011 808/823, 805/815 95,700/- Sh. Govind Ram Saini
Ram Singh S/o 45,000/- 24.02.2011 832/830 42,900/- Sh. Hanuman Singh
Lokesh S/o 90,000/- 24.02.2011 813/827, 809/824 1,27,094/- Sundar Lal
Usha Kumari w/o 90,000/- 25.02.2011 807/822 42,900/- Pappu Kumar
Hanuman S/o 45,000/- 26.02.2011 812/826 40,567/- Khetaram
Sonia W/o Prem 1,25,000/- 26.02.2011 803/818, 802/817 1,05,600/- Singh Saini
Mahendra Kumar 1,20,000/- 26.02.2011 810/825 42,900/- S/o Hanuman Singh
Babita D/o 32,900/- 26.02.2011 814/828 84,194/- Sundar Mal
Tulsi Ram 1,20,000/- 25.02.2011 804/819, 811/829 1,25,763/- Agarwal S/o Hari
Since the applications made for obtaining the license by these persons were not accepted by the Abkari Department, the demand drafts were encashed in
9 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT the assessee’s bank account from where cash was withdrawn and returned to the respective persons.
The assessee filed the return on 27.07.2011 declaring total income of Rs.4,93,050/- which was revised on 07.09.2011 declaring total income of Rs.6,43,050/-. The assessment was completed on 31.12.2013 u/s 143(3) at total income of Rs.6,46,150/- but in the assessment order no reference was made for referring the matter to the Addl. CIT for initiating penalty proceedings u/s 271D & 271E of the Act.
The Addl. CIT issued show cause notice dt. 01.08.2014 u/s 271E of the Act and imposed penalty of Rs.8,47,900/- vide order dt. 26.02.2015 for the reason that assessee neither attended the office personally nor filed the written submission.
Thereafter the Addl. CIT issued show cause notice dt. 30.07.2015 u/s 271D of the Act. The assessee explained that amount of Rs.8,47,900/- deposited in the bank account was not loan but the amount belong to the different persons who have deposited the same in his bank account for the purpose of purchasing the demand draft in respect of their application for allotment of liquor license by the Excise department and since the license was not allotted the amount was repaid to such depositors. The AO, however, rejected the explanation of assessee by holding that the assessee has failed to produce any satisfactory evidences to substantiate his claim that the amount deposited in his bank account was owned by these depositors and used by them for their own purpose and that his account was merely used as a facilitating mechanism to help such depositors. Accordingly he treated the same as loan or deposit in the name of different persons received in cash which is in contravention of provision of sec. 269SS of the Act and thus imposed penalty of Rs.8,47,900/- u/s 271D vide order dt. 26.08.2015. 5. Before CIT(A) assessee filed detailed submission along with additional evidences. The Ld. CIT(A) called for remand report. The remand report dt. 20.03.2018 submitted by AO to CIT(A) is at PB 5-8. The assessee’s submission in response to above remand report is at PB 8A & 9-16.
The Ld. CIT(A), NFAC held that it is very hard to believe that the persons interested in doing liquor business were not having any bank account and hence the appellant accepted & repaid the amount from/to these persons in cash. Thus the appellant accepted/repaid the amounts in cash without any reasonable cause. Accordingly he confirmed penalty of Rs.8,47,900/- u/s 271D of the Act and penalty of Rs.8,47,900/- u/s 271E of the Act.
10 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT
Submission:- 1. It is submitted that section 269SS provides that no person shall take or accept from any other person any loan or deposit exceeding the specified amount otherwise than by account payee cheque/bank draft. Similarly section 269T provides that no person shall repay any loan or deposit made with it otherwise than by account payee cheque/bank draft. The explanation to section 269SS provides that loan or deposit means loan or deposit of money. Therefore section 269SS/269T would be attracted only when a person take or accept loan or deposit of money or repay such loan or deposit of money by a mode otherwise than that specified in the section.
The term loan or deposit, as such, is not defined under the Act. However the general connotation in case of loan is that the amount is given by the creditor to the debtor at the request of and for requirement and dues of the debtor under certain terms and condition. In case of a deposit, the depositee received money at the instance of the depositor. The depositor has to go to the depositee to deposit the amount. But in case of loan, the debtor has to request creditor to advance certain amount for meeting his requirement for using the amount. Both loan or deposit are generally on interest but such interest in case of loan is decided by the lender of amount and not by the recipient of the amount whereas in case of deposit it is decided by the depositee and not by the depositor. Therefore, unless a transaction is in the nature of loan or deposit, section 269SS/269T would not be attracted. Hence amount received in “trust”, in “fiduciary capacity”, in “amanat”, “current account transaction”, etc. are neither loan nor deposit. For this purpose reliance is placed on the decision of Hon’ble ITAT, Jaipur Bench in case of Sunil Kumar Vs. Addl. CIT ITA No.203 & 204/JP/2018 order dated 09.01.2019. The relevant finding of ITAT at Para 5 is as under:-
“Even otherwise the initiation of penalty proceedings U/s 271D and 271E of the Act is based on the premises that the assessee has taken this amount of Rs. 3,36,000/- from one Shri Shreeram and it was also repaid by the assessee to the said person but since the receipt and payment was in cash, therefore, it was held to be in violation of provisions of Section 269SS and 269T of the Act. It is pertinent to note that when the explanation of the assessee that the said amount was deposited by the said person in the bank account of the assessee for the purpose of taking a D.D. in favour of the Excise Department for participating in the tender of liquor shops then it would not fall in the ambit of loan or deposits as contemplated in the provisions of Section 269SS and 269T of the Act. Therefore, once it is not a loan taken by the assessee for his requirement but the explanation was accepted by the Assessing Officer that this amount was deposited by Shri Shreeram for his requirement of
11 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT participating in the tender of the liquor shops then in absence of any fresh material or contrary record to show that the amount was taken as a loan by the assessee for assessee’s requirement, the penalty levied U/s 271D and 271E are not justified.”
In the present case also, the cash amount has been deposited in the assessee’s bank account. The amount so deposited has been used for making the demand draft in favour of the Excise department in support of which the application filed by these persons along with the details of bank draft is placed at PB 22-43. The affidavit of all these persons were also filed (PB 44-58). Thus the amount credited in the bank account of the assessee in cash is “amanat” amount or the amount received in “trust” which is neither a loan nor a deposit. Hence, there is no contravention of section 269SS/269T and consequently no penalty u/s 271D/271E is leviable.
It is submitted that section 269SS falls in Chapter XXB which deals with requirement as to the mode of acceptance, payment or repayment in certain cases to counter act evasion of tax. The scope of and effect of section 269SS is elaborated in circular no. 387 dated 06 July 1984 as follows:
32.1 Unaccounted cash found in the course of searches carried out by the Income- tax Department is often explained by taxpayers as representing loans taken from or deposits made by various persons. Unaccounted income is also brought into the books of account in the form of such loans and deposits and taxpayers are also able to get confirmatory letters from such persons in support of their explanation.
32.2 With a view to countering this device, which enables taxpayers to explain away unaccounted cash or unaccounted deposits, the Finance Act has inserted a new section 269SS in the Income-tax Act debarring persons from taking or accepting, after 30th June, 1984, from any other person any loan or deposit otherwise than by an account payee cheque or account payee bank draft if the amount of such loan or deposit or the aggregate amount of such loan and deposit is Rs. 10,000 or more. This prohibition will also apply in cases where on the date of taking or accepting such loan or deposit, any loan or deposit taken or accepted earlier by such person from the depositor is remaining unpaid (whether repayment has fallen due or not), and the amount or the aggregate amount remaining unpaid is Rs. 10,000 or more. The prohibition will also apply in cases where the amount of such loan or deposit, together with the aggregate amount remaining unpaid on the date on which such loan or deposit is proposed to be taken, is Rs. 10,000 or more.
Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of ADIT(Inv.) Vs. Kum. A.B. Shanthi (2002) 255 ITR 258, 263 has also observed that the object of introducing s. 269SS is to ensure that a taxpayer is not allowed to give false explanation for his unaccounted money, or if he has given some false entries in his accounts, he
12 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT shall not escape by giving false explanation for the same. During search and seizures, unaccounted money is unearthed and the tax payer would usually give the explanation that he had borrowed or received deposits from his relatives or friends and it is easy for the so-called lender also to manipulate his records later to suit the plea of the taxpayer. The main object of s. 269SS was to curb this menace.
From the above it can be noted that the object for enacting section 269SS is to prohibit the tax payers in explaining the unaccounted cash found in course of search as representing loan taken from or deposit made by various persons. In the present case the genuineness of transaction is not in dispute, it is not a case of explaining any undisclosed income in garb of acceptance of loan or deposit and the AO himself has verified the source of such cash amount by accepting the return of assessee. Hence it is not a case of bringing any unaccounted income in the bank account of the assessee and therefore even on the basis of the intent and purpose for which this section was brought into the statute, no adverse inference of violation of section 269SS/269T is required to be drawn and therefore the penalty levied u/s 271D/271E is unjustified.
It has been held in number of cases that where asseessee has given a reasonable explanation for receiving the amount in cash, acted in bonafide manner or default is of technical nature, no penalty u/s 271D/ 271E is leviable. Reliance in this connection is placed on the following cases:-
CIT Vs. Maheshwari Nirman Udyog (2008) 302 ITR 201 (Raj.) (HC) The Hon’ble High Court at Para 7 to 10 of this judgment held as under:-
We have heard learned counsel for the parties. We have also gone through the orders of the Tribunal, Jodhpur Bench, Jodhpur, the CIT(A)-I, Jodhpur, as well as the order of the Dy. CIT, Bikaner. It is true that as per the provisions of s. 269SS of the Act, no person shall, after the 30th day of June, 1984, take or accept from any other person, any loan or deposit otherwise than by an account payee cheque or account payee draft, if such loan or deposit is of Rs. 20,000 or more. Accordingly, the payment, in the instant case, should have been made either by way of cheque or by way of bank draft. However, so far as question about imposition of penalty is concerned, s. 271D of the Act deals with the same. Sec. 273B provides that if the assessee proves that there was reasonable cause for any failure, no penalty shall be imposable on the person or the assessee as provided under s. 271D of the Act. Sec. 273B of the Act provides as under:
13 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT "Notwithstanding anything contained in the provision of s. 271D, no penalty shall be imposable on the person or the assessee, as the case may be, for any failure, referred to in the said provision if he proves that there was reasonable cause for the said failure."
The question requires consideration is that whether the transaction in question can be said to be a genuine transaction or not. In this behalf, the first appellate authority after appreciating the evidence on record has observed in para 3 of its judgment as under:
"After careful consideration of the matter, I find that the appellant is a contractor doing business in a remote area of Nokha Tehsil. The appellant had to make spot payments to the labour, etc. and for that the appellant needed cash. Therefore, the appellant borrowed the money from sister concern at the work site. Therefore, it is only a technical breach of law and for a mere technical breach, no penalty is exigible. Therefore, the penalty levied by the Dy. CIT, Bikaner, is cancelled because the source of the deposits has not been disbelieved by the AO. Therefore, the penalty is cancelled."
The Tribunal in the appeal filed by the Revenue has also considered this aspect and in para 6 of its judgment has observed as under:
"We have considered the rival submissions. The learned Authorised Representative. contended that the transactions between two sister concerns are not covered by the provisions of s. 269SS. For the purpose he has relied upon four judgments. In the case of Muthoot M. George Bankers vs. Asstt. CIT (1993) 47 TTJ (Coch) 434: (1993) 46 ITD 10 (Coch) it was held as under (headnote):
‘In the instant case, there was no evidence to show that money was loaned or kept deposited for a fixed period or repayable on demand. Further, the sister concerns and the assessee were owned by the same family group of people with a common managing partner with centralised accounts under the same roof. Transfer of funds had taken place in a whimsical manner. Therefore, it was rather difficult to say that the transactions were in the nature of deposits or loans with certain conditions attached to them, either as regards the period of such deposits or loans or with regard to their repayments. From the copies of the accounts furnished all that could be gathered was that funds had been transferred from and to the sister concerns as and when required and since the managing partner was common to all the sister concerns, the decision to transfer the funds from one concern to another concern or to repay the funds could be said to have been largely influenced by the same individual. In such circumstances of the case, the transactions inter se between the sister concerns and the assessee could not partake of the nature of either ‘deposit’ or ‘loan’ though interest might have been paid on the same.’
14 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT Therefore, we find that the funds had been borrowed from the sister concern not at Nokha where the assessee had bank account but in Sriganganagar District for engagement of fresh labourers. Therefore, we agree with the contention of the learned Authorised Representative on this ground. The assessee had undertaken various sites at remote area at a time where no banking facilities are available and money was urgently required and there were no banks at the sites. This is considered to be a reasonable cause."
Accordingly, both the fact-finding authorities found that the transaction in question is a genuine transaction and the explanation given by the respondent-assessee has been accepted by the CIT(A)-I, Jodhpur, as well as by the Tribunal, Jodhpur Bench, Jodhpur. Though learned counsel Mr. K.K. Bissa submitted that the finding of fact given by the authorities below is not correct finding of fact as other view is possible. We are afraid, we cannot go into the aspect whether the finding of fact arrived at by the authorities below is proper or not. It is required to be noted that the powers of this Court are limited as to correct substantial error of law, if any. Whether a particular transaction is genuine or otherwise is a question of fact and if it has been found by the appellate authority that the assessee had shown reasonable cause for accepting the money in cash, the finding of fact given by the appellate authority, which is affirmed by the Tribunal is not required to be interfered with by this Court as it cannot be said that any substantial question of law arises for determination of this Court and whether the assessee has made out a case for accepting the amount in cash, finding on such aspect can be said to be finding of facts based on material on record. Whether a particular finding of fact is correct or not, is not a question which could be examined by this Court in this appeal.”
CIT Vs. Speedways Rubber (P) Ltd (2010) 326 ITR 31 (P&H) (HC) The head note of this case is as under:-
“Penalty under s. 271D—Contravention of s. 269SS—Assessee accepted share application money being Rs. 20,000 in cash—Penalty levied under s. 271D deleted by CIT(A) holding that transaction was bona fide and default was of technical nature—Tribunal affirmed the order of CIT(A)—Finding to the effect that the transaction was bona fide and the default was of technical nature which did not justify levy of penalty is not shown to be, in any manner, perverse or unreasonable—No substantial question of law arises”
Smt. Vijapurapu Sudha Rao Vs. ITO (2024) 234 DTR 276 (Visakha) (Trib.) Since the cash received by the assessee on sale of immovable property has been immediately deposited by him in his bank account, provisions of sec. 269SS are not attracted and therefore, penalty u/s 271D levied by the AO is not sustainable more so as the explanation offered by the assessee for accepting receipt of cash that it was a distress sale constitutes a reasonable cause as contemplated in sec. 273B.
15 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT Kusum Dhamani Vs. Additional CIT (2015) 152 ITD 481 (Jaipur) (Trib.) The head note of this case is as under:-
Penalty u/s 271D—Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 269SS—Assessee carried on proprietor business under the name of ''X'' and her husband was also a Proprietor of another concern—During assessment proceedings, AO found that Assessee had received cash loans from her husband— AO initiated penalty proceedings u/s 271D asking Assessee to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed as cash deposits with in contravention of Section 269SS— AO was however, not satisfied with explanation and imposed penalty u/s 271D holding that Assessee had no reasonable cause and explanation was based on bald statement that husband was managing the affairs of Assessee's business— CIT(A) upheld Order of AO on ground that no exceptional circumstances or exigencies of business could be substantiated by Assessee and Assessee's case did not fall in exempted category prescribed in first proviso to Section 269SS—Held, From record there was no shred of doubt about genuineness of transactions and their disclosure in the books of account and returns of both the Assessee who happen to be husband and wife, carrying on the business as sister concerns— Section 271D read with Section 269SS was introduced by legislature to discourage the menace of black money— Since those transactions were genuine, this element of black money was totally ruled out—Assessee had given an explanation that was not unreasonable and based on business exigencies also for payments to labourers and lenders— Transactions being genuine and Assessee having offered reasonable explanation justifying those cash transactions, impugned penalty u/s 271D was not leviable—Penalty imposed on Assessee deleted—Assessee's Appeal allowed.
In view of above, penalty of Rs.8,47,900/- confirmed by Ld. CIT(A) u/s 271D & 271E is uncalled for and be directed to be deleted.
To support the contention so raised in the written submission
reliance was placed on the following evidence / records / decisions:
16 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT
Case laws relied upon:
S. No. Particulars Pg No. Copy of decision of Hon’ble ITAT Jaipur Bench in case of Sunil Kumar 1. 1-3 Vs. Addl. CIT ITA No.203 & 204/JP/2018 order dated 09.01.2019 2. Copy of decision of Hon’ble Rajasthan High Court in case of CIT Vs. 4-14 Maheshwari Nirman Udyog (2008) 302 ITR 201 3. Copy of decision of Hon’ble P&H High Court in case of CIT Vs. 15-16 Speedways Rubber (P) Ltd (2010) 326 ITR 31 4. Copy of decision of Hon’ble ITAT Visakhapatnam Bench in case of 17-20 Smt. Vijapurapu Sudha Rao Vs. ITO (2024) 234 DTR 276 5. Copy of decision of Hon’ble ITAT Jaipur Bench in case of Kusum 21-26 Dhamani Vs. Additional CIT (2015) 152 ITD 481
17 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT 9. The ld. AR of the assessee in addition to the above written
submission so filed vehemently argued that the assessee the
assessee is salaried person working in an insurance company as
sales manager. The assessee along with his wife his friends and
close relatives decided to apply for liquor license with Abkari
Department. Since these persons were not having the bank
account, they used the assessee’s bank account whereby the cash
amount received of Rs.8,47,900/- from 10 persons was deposited
in the bank account of assessee for making the demand draft in
favour of Abkari Department. To support the assessee has placed
on record affidavit, application made by those persons for allotment
of liquor shop. The ld. AO considered the explanation of the
assessee and the assessment was completed u/s. 143(3) of the
Act without making any addition. Considering this set of facts and
provision of section 269SS cover the loan or deposit and the
transaction is out of the ambit of that loan or deposit even that
aspect did not attract the penalty. The ld. AR in support of the
arguments also relied upon the decisions as cited herein above.
18 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT 10. The ld DR is heard who relied on the findings of the lower
authorities and more particularly advanced the similar contentions
as stated in the order of the ld. CIT(A). The ld. DR vehemently
opposed to the contention of the assessee that the 10 persons
alleged to have given the money for making the DD were not
having bank account. As is evident from the affidavit from the
affidavit of Shri Vinod Kumar Saini and Shri Ramsingh that he does
not have any bank account and is having the PAN issued by the
Income Tax department. Whereas Shri Dhanalal, Shri Lokesh, Smt.
Usha Kumari, Shri Hanuman, Shri Mahendra Kumar Ms. Babita are
doing agricultural activity not having bank account cannot be
believed. So far as regards the money received from Shri Tulsi
Ram having bank account but not having cheque book is also not
correct not only Smt. Soniya wife of the assessee who is school
teacher and how it can be believed that he does not have any bank
account. The ld. DR also relying on the same affidavit stated that
the affidavit says at the time of making the DD they did not have
bank account, but it is not clear whether at the time when the
money received back they were having the bank account or not. So
both the matters are inter related and is requires the remand to the
19 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT file of the ld. AO who needs to examine this issue as the version of
the assessee on facts needs a detailed inquiry. Assessee cannot
use the saving bank account for making the banking transaction for
others and is not permitted also. The reasons thus, advanced does
not provide immunity as per provision of section 273B of the Act.
As the facts of the case law relied upon are different from that of
the facts of the assessee the same are differentiated.
We have heard the rival contentions and perused the material
placed on record. The bench noted that as per the facts available
on record the assessee is an employee of a private insurance
company. During the year under consideration the assessee
received a sum of Rs. 8,47,900/- from different 10 parties and
submit that since that person not having the bank account, he
allowed the use of his bank account to prepare the Demand Draft
required to apply the liquor license from the money that has been
given by those parties to the assessee. Since that application for
liquor license were not considered favorable the demand draft was
again given to bank for crediting the money into the bank account
of the assessee and the assessee has after credit of the amount of
20 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT demand draft he has given the money back to the respective
parties in cash. This action of the assessee accepting the money
and giving back the money was considered to be in violation of
section 269SS and 269T of the Act the penalty proceeding was
initiated against the assessee as per provision of section 271D &
271E of the Act for the respective violation. In the penalty
proceeding the assessee placed on record the liquor license form
and affidavit of the assessee contending that they have given the
money to the assessee and he/she do not have any bank account
and to avail the opportunity of getting a license of liquor they have
by using the account of the assessee made the demand draft. The
bench noted from the copy of the affidavit filed by the assessee
that all the affidavit suggest are having on the stere type drafting
wherein it is stated that at the time of making the demand draft they
have no bank account. That affidavit does not speak what was the
position when the assessee received the money back whether at
that time also the assessee was not having bank account. Thus, all
these affidavits are not disclosing the correct fact for the
proceeding of both the penalty. Even the ld. DR submitted that it is
next to impossible to have the PAN number by some of the party
21 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT and not having the bank account. Therefore, the contention of the
assessee in the interest of justice needs to be verified first that
what was the position when the money received back and at the
time money was given. The bench also note that the assessee’s
wife who being stated to be teacher and she being not having bank
account is also not clarified from the records. Thus, we are of the
considered view that the facts of the case is cryptic and not spelling
out the truth and at the same time the records produced by the
assessee is not discussed in the proceeding before the lower
authority.
Thus, looking to all these aspects of the matter and the
submission of the rival parties we are of the view that the case of
the assessee need to be verified and on facts are based on half-
truth, as the affidavit did not deal the position prevailing when the
money received back needs to be examined so as to render justice
to the rival parties. Based on this aspect of the matter we remand
the matter to the file of the Additional / Joint Commissioner we has
passed the penalty order to verify the contention of the affidavit
with the respective two alleged default made by the assessee.
22 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT Considering the arguments as recorded here in above we
deem it fit to remand the matter to the file of the ld. AO [ Addl/ JCIT
] who will considered the factual aspect of the matter as raised by
the rival parties as discussed herein above and after due
verification of the facts and levy the penalty / drop the proceeding
in the hands of the assessee after affording due opportunity of
being heard to the assessee. However, the assessee will not seek
any adjournment on frivolous ground and remain cooperative
during proceedings before the ld. AO.
Before parting, we may make it clear that our decision to
restore the matter back to the file of the ld. AO shall in no way be
construed as having any reflection or expression on the merits of
the dispute, which shall be adjudicated by the ld. AO independently
in accordance with law.
In terms of these observations, the appeal of the assessee in
ITA no. 951/JP/2024 is allowed for statistical purposes.
The fact of the case in ITA No. 952/JP/2024 is similar to the
case in ITA No. 951/JP/2024 and we have heard both the parties
and persuaded the materials available on record. The bench has
23 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT noticed that the issues raised by the assessee in this appeal No. 952/JP/2024 is equally similar on set of facts and grounds. Therefore, it is not imperative to repeat the facts and various grounds raised by both the parties. Hence, the bench feels that the decision taken by us in ITA No. 951/JP/2024 for the Assessment Year 2011-12 shall apply mutatis mutandis in the case of Shri Prem Singh Saini in ITA No. 952/JP/2024 for the Assessment Year 2011-12.
In the result, both appeals of the assessee are allowed for statistical purposes. Order pronounced in the open court on 09/09/2024.
Sd/- Sd/- ¼ lanhi xkslkbZ ½ ¼ jkBkSM deys’k t;arHkkbZ ½ (Sandeep Gosain) (Rathod Kamlesh Jayantbhai) U;kf;d lnL;@Judicial Member ys[kk lnL;@Accountant Member Tk;iqj@Jaipur fnukad@Dated:- 09/09/2024 *Ganesh Kumar, Sr. PS आदेश की प्रतिलिपि अग्रेf’ात@ब्वचल वf जीम वतकमत वितूंतकमक जवरू 1. vihykFkhZ@The Appellant- Sh. Prem Singh Saini, Sikar 2. izR;FkhZ@ The Respondent- Addl. CIT, Sikar, Sikar 3. vk;dj vk;qDr@ CIT 4. vk;dj vk;qDr@ CIT(A) 5. विभागीय प्रतिनिधि] आयकर अपीलीय अधिकरण] जयपुर@क्त्ए प्ज्Aज्ए Jंपचनत. 6. xkMZ QkbZy@ Guard File {ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024}
24 ITA Nos. 951 & 952/JP/2024 Sh. Prem Singh Saini vs. Addl. CIT vkns'kkuqlkj@ By order,
सहायक पंजीकार@Aेेज. त्महपेजतंत