RANDEBHAI ARJANBHAI MODHVADIYA,PORBANDAR vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER, PORBANDAR

This appeal has been filed by the assessee against the order passed by the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax(Appeals), (in short “Ld. CIT(A)”), National Faceless Appeal Centre (in short “NFAC”), Delhi in DIN/Order No. ITBA/NFAC/S/250/2022-23/1051064707(1) vide order dated 21.03.2023 passed for Assessment Year 2017-18.

The assessee has taken the following grounds of appeals:-

The brief facts of the case are that during the impugned year under consideration, the assessee had deposited a sum of Rs. 15,00,000/- in his bank account during demonetization period. The said cash deposit of Rs. 15,00,000/- was made by the assessee on 14.02.2016 during demonetization period. During the course of assessment, the Assessing Officer asked the assessee to explain the source of the aforesaid cash deposit. The assessee submitted that the source of this cash deposit was agricultural income of the assessee for the year under consideration, amount received from his wife and also earlier year’s agricultural income, which were the savings of the assessee on hand. Keeping in light the submissions made by the assessee, the AO estimated Rs. 5,00,000/- as the assessee’s saving from past year and estimated Rs. 2,00,000/- as the agricultural income of the assessee for the current and brought to tax the balance amount of Rs. 8,00,000/- as unexplained money of the assessee under Section 69A of the Act.

In appeal, Ld. CIT(A) confirmed the additions with the following observations:-

The assessee is in appeal before us against the order of the Ld. CIT(A) confirming the additions made by the Assessing Officer.

Before us, the Counsel for the assessee submitted that the assessee is an agriculturist and the source of cash deposit is the agricultural income for the year under consideration as well as per earlier year’s agricultural income and also the amount received by the assessee from his wife Rambhiben Modhvadia, as she does not have any bank account. Before us, the Counsel for the assessee submitted that the assessee is holding more than 55 bighas of productive agricultural land. The details of land holdings of the assessee were given to us in the form of a table. It was submitted that the assessee is an uneducated farmer and did not carry out much banking transactions and largely used to keep cash on hand. Accordingly, once demonetization was declared by the Government, all the cash held by the assessee was deposited in the bank account in one go. Further, it was submitted that for the past three years, the assessee has earned net agricultural income amounting to Rs. 3.96 lakhs (A.Y. 2013-14), Rs. 8.14 lakhs (A.Y. 2014-15) and Rs. 2.72 lakhs (A.Y. 2015- 16). Further, the Counsel for the assessee submitted that he has also furnished certificate from Talati cum Mantri in support of agricultural income during the course of assessment proceedings for A.Y. 2017-18. Further, the Counsel for the assessee also submitted copies of agricultural

In response, Ld. D.R. placed reliance on the observation made by the Ld. AO and Ld. CIT(A) in their respective orders.

We have heard the rival contentions and perused the material on record. On going through the facts of the instant case, copy of affidavit of M/s. Rambhiben Modhavadia, copies of agricultural produce sales bills for the current years as well as past years, copy of certificate issued by Talati cum Mantri in respect of land holding and agricultural income earned by the assessee, we are of the considered view that the assessee has been able to demonstrate the source of funds deposited in his bank account during the demonetization period. We observe that the facts placed on record by the assessee viz. the proof of the assessee possessing substantial agricultural land holdings, the fact that the assessee has been engaged in agricultural produce for several years, the fact that the agricultural produce sale bills were furnished by the assessee for the present as well as past years and further that, the Talati cum Mantri has Randebhai Arjanbhai Modhvadiya vs. ITO Asst.Year –2017-18 - 5 - also certified the land holding and agricultural income of the assessee etc. have not been disputed by the Revenue at any stage. In the said certificate dated 20.10.2018, the concerned Talati cum Mantri, Miyani Gram Panchayat has certified that the assessee has earned net agricultural income close to Rs. 14.83 lakhs for the past three assessment years. The contents of the certificate issued by Talati cum Manti dated 20.10.2018 have not been disputed by the Revenue Authorities at any stage. Accordingly, looking into the facts of the instant case, we are of the considered view that the assessee has been able to demonstrate the source of deposits made in his bank account during the demonetization period. Accordingly, the addition made by the Ld. AO is directed to be deleted.

In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed. This Order pronounced in Open Court on 13/10/2023