DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX CENTRAL CIRCLE , JAMMU vs. SHRI RAM PAL GUPTA, JAMMU

per this return of income the assessee also declared the gold for A.Y. 2014-15 the proof which is enclosed in APB pages 61 to 90.

We find there is no reason for the addition of Rs.3,32,000/-. So, the same amount is also deleted.

14,74,325/-) and 2015-16 (Rs. 9,44,120/-). The AR has referred to the returns of income filed by Sh. Rajesh Gupta and filed the copy of the cash ledger account showing balance of Rs. 4,15,963/- as on 19th January, 2017. On the basis of the documents filed and in view of the facts that Sh. Rajesh Gupta was a regular Income Tax assessee who has been depositing huge amounts of cash in the bank account during the preceding years also, the cash balance as per the books of accounts of M/s. Prime Computers is to be taken as explained. The AO has not rejected the books of accounts of Sh. Rajesh Gupta. The arguments on this point are found acceptable. As regards, the cash-in-hand of Rs. 15,09,349/- in the possession of Sh. Madhu Gupta after the death of her mother-in-law, the AR has argued that she was a regular income tax assessee who expired on 29.10.2015 and thereafter the household cash passed on to Smt. Madhu Gupta. It is also submitted that the assessee has shown a cash of Rs. 19,95,650/- as 'cash other than business cash' in his return for assessment year 2015-16 and as per the AR, there cannot be any stronger evidence than this to justify the cash found at the time of search. The AR has filed the copy of the income tax return of the assessee for assessment year 2015-16 and the relevant part is reproduced in para 3.1 (at page 19). The AO has rejected the explanation about cash received from the wife of the assessee Late Smt. Rama Kant Gupta by the daughter-in-law of the assessee by observing that no &476Asr/2019 14 Assessment Year: 2017-18 documentary proof for the same has been filed. It is illogical to expect that the old lady Smt. Rama Kant Gupta will call her daughter-in-law and prepare a document duly signed by her and handover the cash to her daughter-in-law along with such documents before dying. Therefore, to expect documentary evidence in support of the contention that the cash in possession of Smt. Rama Kant Gupta at the time of her death, passed over to Smt. Madhu Gupta after her (Smt. Rama Kant Gupta) death is most absurd. It is but natural that after the death of Smt. Rama Kant Gupta, such cash would be passed on/ handled by her daughter-in-law, Smt. Madhu Gupta the only adult female member in the family. It is difficult to comprehend as to the documentary proof for such transfer at the time or after the death of Smt. Rama Kant Gupta. It is a tradition and generally no documentation is done and the eldest surviving female member of the household automatically takeover the responsibility which were earlier performed by the deceased. And most importantly the assessee has already disclosed a cash of Rs. 19,59,650/- (as non business cash) in his return filed before the date of search. There is further merit in the argument of the AR that the AO has given benefit of past savings only in respect of Sh. Rajesh Gupta and Smt. Madhu Gupta whereas no benefit in respect of past savings of the assessee has been given. The other basis taken by the AO for rejecting the contention of the assessee were various notifications issued by the RBI after &476Asr/2019 15 Assessment Year: 2017-18 demonetization. Here it is relevant to mention that at the time of search, no demonetized currency notes were found. Therefore, whatever cash-in-hand was available with the assessee before demonetization got converted by the assessee. How he converted the old, demonetized currency notes into new currency notes of Rs. 2,000/- can be a matter of debate but the fact of the matter is that no old demonetized currency of Rs. 1000 and Rs. 500 denomination were found or seized during the search and hence it has to be presumed that all of them were converted by the assessee into new currency notes of Rs. 2000/- or Rs. 500/- may be through legal means or in violation of RBI notification etc. but this will not make the cash found in new denomination of Rs. 2000/- as unaccounted or justify making addition of the same in the hands of the assessee since the assessee has declared this much of cash in hands 'other than the business cash' in the returns filed before the date of search. The assessee is entitled for the benefit of personal cash declared by him in his returns of income filed before the date of search since this has to be considered as disclosed cash. Under the facts and the circumstances of the case and in view of the documents filed by the AR during the appellate proceedings, the addition of Rs. 18,00,000/- made by the AO is not found sustainable and hence deleted.

&476Asr/2019 16 Assessment Year: 2017-18

There is merit in the contention of the appellant that his statement was not recorded at the time of search and the declaration made by Sh. Rajesh Gupta u/s 132(4) who was an employee in assessee's concern is not binding on the assessee, especially in view of the fact that the assessee retracted from the declaration made by Sh. Rajesh Gupta through a letter filed on the very next day before the DDIT (Inv.), Jammu explaining all the points on which declaration was made by Sh. Rajesh Gupta u/s 132(4). The presumption u/s 292C is a rebuttable presumption and the AR has argued that the assessee has successfully rebutted the presumption. Even the AO has made addition of Rs. 18 lacs only as against surrender of Rs. 30 lacs taken during the search u/s 132(4). Thus, the declaration made by the Sh. Rajesh Gupta has not been accepted as such or relied upon by the AO. This also strengths the arguments of the AR on this point. On the basis of facts and documents filed on behalf of the assessee, the contention of the AR is found acceptable. Accordingly, this ground of appeal is allowed.”

7.2 The ld. Counsel further argued that the cash amount of Rs.19,59,650/- was already declared in the assessee’s return of income for the A.Y. 2015-16 which is enclosed in APB, Pages 91 to 120. This amount Rs.19,59,650/- was acquired cash balance from the family saving which was also declared in the return of income. During the F.Y. 16-17 the turnover of business of assessee &476Asr/2019 17 Assessment Year: 2017-18 is amount of Rs.24 crore. The assessee had sufficient cash balance in the books of accounts. So, there is no question of undisclosed cash in the hands of the assessee.

Accordingly, the addition amount of Rs.18 lac is deleted.

9.1. The ld. Counsel first relied on the order of the ld. CIT(A) the relevant para is extracted as below: &476Asr/2019 18 Assessment Year: 2017-18

“The facts of the case, the basis of addition made by the A.O., arguments of the AR during the course of assessment as well as appellate proceedings have been considered. The AR has argued that immediately after search/survey, a detailed chart was furnished to the DDIT pointing out the mistake committed by the departmental team. The AR gave a chart showing the item-wise valuation as done by the search/survey team and the amount as per purchase bill which shows that the total value of stock found was Rs. 3,08,37,484/- as against value arrived at Rs. 3,50,86,411/- by the survey team. The AR has stated that the apparent mistake committed were that the MRP stands applied to the stock instead of the purchase price; defective units were counted; sold stock but lying at the premises was counted and other difference in VAT and counting. The AR further submitted that out of valuation of Laptops at Rs. 57,17,882/- the AO gave credit for demo laptops for Rs. 1,67,416/- as against actual value of Rs. 11,08,664/-, for defective laptops the credit of Rs. 8,34,360/- was given as against eligible credit of Rs. 12,54,280/-. In respect of laptops sold to M/s. Asia IT Solutions, as per the AR, the actual cost was Rs. 4,38,571/- against which credit given by the AO was Rs. 3,68,100/- only. After reducing the 5% VAT on local purchases, the difference was calculated by the AR at Rs. 10,89,016/- which was claimed on account of &476Asr/2019 19 Assessment Year: 2017-18 counting error by the team. It is argued that the purchases are through proper channel and recorded in the books of accounts and cannot be said to be unaccounted. There is some merit in this argument of the AR since the assessee was dealing in branded items which has can be purchased from the authorized source only and has to be sold against proper bill. A perusal of the assessment order shows that the AO has calculated excess stock mainly on account of value of laptops at Rs. 57,17,820/-. This has been explained by the AR with respect to the demo laptops, defective laptops and sales made to M/s. Asia IT Solutions. However, even after the accounting for the value of demo, defective, sold laptops and VAT adjustment etc. by the AR, there is a difference of Rs. 10,89,016/- which has not been satisfactorily explained by the AR (and the same was the position before the AO also). The AR has tried to explain this as difference on account of counting by the departmental team. However, the fact is that even the appellant has accepted this difference during the assessment proceedings. Therefore, the addition to the extent of Rs. 10,89,016/- on account of difference in stock is found sustainable and hence confirmed. Regarding the addition of Rs. 69,637/-, the AR submitted that the shortage was on account of small items which have been exchanged after sale of fresh computers. It is also argued &476Asr/2019 20 Assessment Year: 2017-18 that certain items are so small that there was pilferage by staff. It is also argued that even the counting of small item lying haphazardly cannot be confirmed as genuine. The argument of the AR regarding the pilferage of small items and counting of these items lying in haphazard way, appears to be realistic. Therefore, the addition of Rs. 69,637/- is deleted. There is merit in the contention of the assessee that his statement was not recorded at the time of search and the declaration made by Sh. Rajesh Gupta u/s 132(4) who was an employee in assessee's concern is not binding on the assessee, especially in view of the fact that the assessee retracted from the declaration made by Sh. Rajesh Gupta through a letter filed on the very next day before the DDIT (Inv.), Jammu explaining all the points on which declaration was made by Sh. Rajesh Gupta u/s 132(4). The presumption u/s 292C is a rebuttable presumption and the AR has argued that the assessee has successfully rebutted the presumption. On the basis of facts and documents filed on behalf of the assessee, this contention of the AR is found acceptable. Therefore, to sum-up, the addition on account of difference in stock to the extent of Rs. 10,89,016/- is confirmed and appellant gets relief of the balance amount. Accordingly, these grounds of appeal are partly allowed.”

&476Asr/2019 21 Assessment Year: 2017-18 9.2. In support of the assessee’s own claim, the ld. Counsel first filed a reconciliation which is annexed in APB page 151. The reconciliation is reproduced as below:

9.3. The ld. Counsel further argued that during hearing before ITAT the item and stock-wise statement and details of goods return, un-dispatched stock was submitted in APB page no. 148 to 330. The ld. Counsel specifically mentioned that there is no difference in between quantity and item of stock which was produced before the revenue authorities. Only, the difference in the valuation of the stock related to laptops. The purchased bills with tax invoice are also annexed from APB pages 152 to 198as proof determining the valuation of stock. The difference of some laptops of 233 &476Asr/2019 22 Assessment Year: 2017-18 numbers is only related to the gift item and the demo sample which were also reconciled (paragraph 9.2.).

9.4. The ld. Counsel mentioned that during the appeal hearing, the appellate authority allowed the difference of the stock but only Rs.10,89,016/- was upheld. There is no discrepancy in the item and quantity.

The valuations are duly backed by the purchase value. So, the entire stock difference is liable to be rejected.

Accordingly, the addition of Rs.1,87,02,000/- was made as cash deposited in old currency in the bank account during the demonetisation period. The addition was made u/s 69 of the Act.

11.1. The ld. Counsel fully relied on the order of the ld. CIT(A) the relevant para of ld. CIT (A) is extracted as below:

On the basis of this, the AR has argued that as per pages no. 38 & 39 of Annexure A-14, sales were carried out by through salesperson for which the bills were issued in October and November, 2016 and this fact was duly communicated to DDIT (Inv.), Jammu explaining the seized document. As per the AR, it is thus clear that the document seized at the time of search itself indicate that sales were made in October and November 2016 and same have been recorded in the books of accounts of the assessee. On the basis of the facts mentioned by the AR and the documents relied upon by him, his argument appears acceptable. Under the facts and the circumstance of the case, the addition of Rs. 1,87,02,000/- made by the AO is not found sustainable and hence deleted.

&476Asr/2019 24 Assessment Year: 2017-18 11.2. The ld. Counsel further argued that it is pertinent to state that, when the sales have been duly accounted for in the books of accounts against the stocks in hand and which has been duly verified. Then how can be the cash received on account of sales, be treated as unexplained cash in the hands of the appellant. The Ld. A.O is very much unjustified in comparing the cash sales during the month of October 2016 and up to 8th November 2016 with the average cash sales of the previous months. The addition was fully on basis of comparison. The ld. AO also stated in his order in the last lines of Para 5.1 of his order that even in the year 2015-16 in august 2015 the cash in hand as per books was Rs. 7,03,9438/-. In August 16 also, the Ld. AO verified that cash in hand in books was amount of Rs. 20,65,556. Even when demonetization period was over the cash in hand duly verified and accepted is at Rs 28,45,667/. Lastly when sales are around Rs 24 Crores in a financial year, then to object the old sales through employees and recovered due to pressure of demonetization that to less than the figure of Rs 2 crore for the period from 1-10-2016 to 8-11-2016 is absolutely unjustified. If sales in a year are Rs 24 Crores then average sales per month has to be Rs 2 Crores.

Once again, it is pertinent to state that sales cannot be in doubt, stocks stand verified then how can cash sales be unjustified by which stocks to that extent &476Asr/2019 25 Assessment Year: 2017-18 stands reduced. If the books of accounts are incorrect, then AO should have brought certain instances of mistakes. Everywhere the AO's actions are presumptive and on his own whims and fancies. Finally, counter evidence, the VAT returns (ENCLOSURE- 8: copies of VAT returns) are enclosed with written submission APB Page 334-342 which is evidence for sale. These returns are not in doubt and are duly matching with the books of accounts.

Thus, this action of Ld. A.O. in treating the cash deposited as unexplained cash receipts and further unexplained investment of the assessee in bank account u/s 69A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is purely contrary to facts. It is prayed that this unjustified action and wrong addition of Rs. 1,87,02,000/- may also please be deleted.

Order pronounced in the open court on 15.11.2022