NAGENDRAN SANKARA NARAYAN,CHENNAI vs. ITO, NCW 10(3), CHENNAI
What did the Tribunal hold?
The Tribunal, considering the submissions and the cash book, restricted the addition to 50% of the total addition (Rs. 3,09,540/-) and deleted the remaining 50%. The CIT(A) should have granted more time to justify debtors.
What were the facts?
The assessee deposited Rs. 28,92,500/- in cash during the demonetization period. After considering the opening cash balance, the Assessing Officer treated Rs. 6,19,081/- as unexplained investment. The CIT(A) upheld this addition.
What were the issues?
Whether the addition made under Section 69 for unexplained cash deposits during demonetization is sustainable, and if Section 115BBE is applicable.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, ‘A’ BENCH, CHENNAI
Before: HON’BLE SHRI MANOJ KUMAR AGGARWAL, AM & HON’BLE SHRI MANU KUMAR GIRI, JM
Heard together (2 matters)
Read from the judgment's own cause title. This page is filed under one of them.
आदेश / O R D E R PER MANU KUMAR GIRI (Judicial Member)
The instant appeal filed by the assessee is directed against the order dated 28.03.2024 passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (A) [In short ‘CIT(A)’], arising out of the assessment order dated 29.11.2019 passed u/s section 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred as to ‘the Act’) by the ITO for Assessment Year 2017-18.
The appellant has taken following grounds of appeal: ‘’1. The order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [CIT (A)'] is against the law, the facts and circumstances of the case and the principles of equity and natural justice.
2. The CIT(A) ought to have appreciated that the assessing officer completed the assessment in an arbitrary manner without objectively considering the materials available on his record.
3. The CIT(A) erred in completing the proceedings without granting sufficient opportunity of being heard.
4. The CIT(A) erred in sustaining the addition made by the assessing officer under section 69 of the Act without appreciating that the said provision is not applicable to the facts and circumstances of the Appellant's case.
5. Without prejudice to the ground that section 69 of the Act is inapplicable to the facts and circumstances of the Appellant's case, no opinion was recorded by the AO that explanation offered by the Appellant is not satisfactory and thus, the CIT(A) erred in sustaining the addition under section 69 of the Act when the ingredients for making addition under section 69 of the Act is absent.
6. The CIT(A) and AO erred in proceeding on the assumption that the cash deposits were made only out of specified bank notes without any evidence and thereby erred in ignoring the subsequent cash inflows of the appellant by way of cash sales and collections from debtors.
7. The CIT(A) erred in sustaining the addition under section 69 of the Act without appreciating that the Appellant had furnished relevant documentary evidences to establish the source of cash deposits made in his bank account during the demonetization period.
8. The CIT(A) ought to have appreciated that the assessing officer had not recorded any reasons to reject the documentary evidence submitted by the Appellant to establish the source of cash deposits.
9. The CIT(A) ought to have held that the amended provisions of section 115BBE is not applicable for cash deposits made during the demonetisation period.
10. Your Appellant prefers this appeal on these grounds and such other grounds that may be adduced before or at the time of hearing this Appeal’’.
3. The assessee has filed return of Income for the assessment year (‘AY’ in short) declaring income of Rs.4,62,180/-. Assessee during the demonetisation period deposited total cash of Rs.28,92,500/- in HDFC Bank and Indian Bank. On verification of the cash book the assessee was having cash balance of Rs.22,73,418/- as on 08.11.2016 therefore, AO has given benefit of the same while making assessment and balance of Rs.6,19,081/-was treated as unexplained investment. Feeling aggrieved with the order of Assessing Officer assessee filed an appeal before the Ld.CIT(A). After adjudication, Ld.CIT(A) has dismissed the ground of the assessee and upheld the addition made by AO on account of unexplained investment of Rs. 6,19,081/-. Hence, assessee is further in appeal before us.
4. Ld.Counsel, before us prayed that in the given facts a reasonable estimate can be made restricting addition to 50% of the total addition which is not refuted by ld.DR.
We have heard the both parties, perused the record and the impugned order. In the light of above submission, we restrict the addition to Rs.3,09,540/- being 50% of the total addition and delete the balance addition of Rs.3,09,540/- being 50% of the total addition seeing the cash book produced before ld.CIT(A). We find that Ld.CIT(A) should have given further time to justify the debtors. Therefore, one cannot rule out genuineness of at least 50 % of debtors out of total 22 debtors.
In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is partly allowed.
SA 26/Chny/2024 Since, we have heard the main appeal and partly allowed the appeal, therefore, no separate adjudication is required for stay application. Hence, stay application is dismissed as infructuous.
Order pronounced in the open court on 19th day of June, 2024 at Chennai.
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- Ranchhodbhai Kurjibhai Kakadiya, Rajkot vs Income Tax Officer, Ward-1(1)(1), RajkotITA 553/RJT/2025[2019-20]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2019-20
- Gorantla Rahul Kumar, Visakhapatnam vs The Asst. Commissioner of Income Tax…ITA 670/VIZ/2025[2021-22]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2021-22
- Gorantla Rahul Kumar, Visakhapatnam vs The Asst. Commissioner of Income Tax…ITA 669/VIZ/2025[2020-21]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2020-21
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