ACIT, CENTRAL CIRCLE- 15 , NEW DELHI vs. RAMESH KUMAR PRITHANI, NEW DELHI
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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI ‘F’ BENCH,
Before: SHRI N.K. BILLAIYA, & MS ASTHA CHANDRA
PER N.K. BILLAIYA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER:-
The above captioned two separate appeals by the Revenue are
preferred against two separate orders of the ld. CIT(A) - 35, New Delhi
dated 16.05.2018 pertaining to Assessment Year 2010-11. Since the
underlying facts in both these appeals are same and were heard
together, therefore, they are disposed of by this common order for the
sake of convenience and brevity.
Representatives of both the sides were heard at length. Case
records carefully perused. Relevant documentary evidence brought on
record duly considered in light of Rule 18(6) of the ITAT Rules.
Judicial decisions considered wherever necessary.
The common grievance in both these appeals relates to the
deletion of addition made on account of unexplained investment u/s
69 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 [the Act, for short] amounting to Rs.
2,32,82,386/- in ITA No. 5764/DEL/2018 and deletion of addition
made on account of unexplained receipt of the same amount in ITA No.
5763/DEL/2018.
Briefly stated, the facts of the case are that a search and seizure
operation was carried out in the Brahmaputra Group of cases including
the assessee on 28.09.2010 and various books of account and
documents etc were found and seized. Accordingly, notice u/s 153A of
the Act was issued and served upon the assessee pursuant to which,
return was filed.
During the course of scrutiny assessment proceedings, the
assessee was confronted with seized document, seized from the
residential premises of Shri Sanjeev Kumar Prithani. The seized
document is as under:
At the very outset, it can be seen that the aforementioned seized
document is unsigned, undated and unverified. Evidentiary value of
such document, as exhibited hereinabove, is highly questionable and
has not been accepted by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the cases of
Common Cause [A Registered Society] 294 ITR 220, CBI Vs. VC Shukla
3SCC 410 and the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in the case of Girish
Choudhary 296 ITR 619.
At the assessment stage itself, it was explained by the assessee
that :
“This document is a proposed undated payment schedule made possibly in the year 2007-08 regarding separation of Shri Ramesh Kumar Prithani from Brahmaputra Group, no such payment took place till date and the same has not been materialized”.
The ld. DR had vehemently stated that subsequently, family
partition did take place and the payments were made as per the
statement of Shri Ramesh Kumar Prithani recorded u/s 132(4) of the
Act on 28.09.2010.
However, a perusal of the paper book shows that Shri Ramesh
Kumar Prithani has stated to have paid Rs. 50 lakhs to Shri Suresh
Kumar Prithani, his brother for purchase of shares. Thus, payment was
made by Shri Ramesh Kumar Prithani to Shri Suresh Kumar Prithani but
addition has been made in the hands of Shri Sanjeev Kumar Prithani.
Moreover, Shri Sanjeev Kumar Prithani has categorically stated in
his affidavit as under:
“I Sanjeev Kumar Prithani, Age 48 Years, slo S. P. Agarwala RIo C-S/60, Groutld Floor, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi -110037, do hereby solemnly affirm and sincerely state as follows: 1. I have not paid any amount to Mr. Ramesh Kumar Prithani brother of my towards the amount mentioned in the document Annexure -1/ BA-9 r Page no.18 seized during the search and seizure on 28.09.2010 from my residence at C-5/60 Vasant Kun], New Delhi-l10070.
I have not received any amount from Mr. Ramesh Kumar Prithani in respect of the document Annexure -1/ BA-9, Page no.18 seized from my residence at C-5/60 Vasant Kunj, New Delhi- 110070.
The above mentioned facts are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. “
The Assessing Officer has brought nothing on record to demolish
the aforementioned affidavit. Therefore, the contents of the affidavit
cannot be brushed aside lightly. Even Shri Ramesh Kumar Prithani, in
his letter addressed to the DCIT, Central Circle – 17, New Delhi dated
21.02.2013 has categorically stated that no payment, as proposed and
recorded in the loose sheet has taken place either in cash, cheque,
property or in any other manner whatsoever.
A perusal of the seized document mentioned elsewhere shows
that there is a reference to a cheque payment and also post dated
cheques. Nothing has been brought on record to demonstrate that
these cheque/payments were actually materialized and transaction
through cheque has been completed. Dates mentioned therein relate
to April 2009 to March 2010 and the impugned assessment order is
dated 28.03.2013, which means that even in four years nothing has
been brought on record to suggest that the transaction in cheque has
taken place in respect of the payments mentioned in the family
partition payment schedule.
Considering all these facts in totality, we could not find any
reason to interfere with the findings of the ld. CIT(A). Both the
appeals of the Revenue are dismissed.
In the result the appeals of the Revenue in ITA Nos. 5763 &
5764/DEL/2020 are dismissed.
The order is pronounced in the open court on 27.09.2023.
Sd/- Sd/-
[ASTHA CHANDRA] [N.K. BILLAIYA] JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER
Dated: 27th SEPTEMBER, 2023.
VL/
