INCOME TAX OFFICER, KOLKATA V. UNIGLOBAL PAPERS PRIVATE LIMITED, KOLKATA

ITA 2182/KOL/2024

AI Insights

The case involves appeals by the ITO, Ward-3(1), Kolkata against Uniglobal Papers Pvt. Ltd., concerning the assessment years 2011-12 to 2013-14. The primary issue was the deletion of additions made by the AO under section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which pertained to alleged bogus unsecured loans and share application money. The CIT(A) had deleted these additions on the grounds that they were not supported by any incriminating material found during the search and were based on post-search inquiries. The Tribunal, referencing the Supreme Court's decision in 'Pr. CIT Vs. Abhiser Buildwell (P) Ltd.', upheld the CIT(A)'s decision, emphasizing that additions in unabated assessments can only be made based on incriminating materials seized during the search.

• Counselvise Citation: [2025] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 41202 (ITAT-KOLKATA)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 06-01-2025
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: A
• Assessment Year: 2013-2014
• Other Referred Cases: Pr. CIT Vs. Abhiser Buildwell (P) Ltd.
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: SANJAY MUKHERJEE
• Assessee Lawyers: S. JHAJHARIA
• Keywords: Bogus
• Section: 143(2); 250; 132; 153A; 139(1); 68

Judgement Text

" IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL “A” BENCH, KOLKATA [Before Shri Rajesh Kumar, AM & Shri Pradip Kumar Choubey, JM] I.T.A. Nos. 2180 to 2182/Kol/2024 Assessment Years: 2011-12 to 2013-14 ITO, Ward-3(1), Kolkata Vs. Uniglobal Papers Pvt. Ltd. 2A, Ganesh Chandra Avenue, West Bengal-700013. (PAN: AAECA7423N) Appellant Respondent & C.O. Nos. 55 to 57/Kol/2024 In I.T.A. Nos. 2180 to 2182/Kol/2024 Assessment Years: 2011-12 to 2013-14 Uniglobal Papers Pvt. Ltd. 2A, Ganesh Chandra Avenue, West Bengal-700013. Vs. ITO, Ward-3(1), Kolkata Cross Objector Respondent Date of conclusion of Hearing 01.01.2025 Date of Pronouncement 06.01.2025 For the Assessee Shri S. Jhajharia, FCA For the Revenue Shri Sanjay Mukherjee, CIT, DR ORDER Per Shri Rajesh Kumar, AM All these appeals filed by the revenue and the Cross Objections filed by the assessee are against the separate orders of Ld. CIT(A), Kolkata-21 dated 06.06.2024 for AYs 2011-12 and 2013-14 and dated 05.06.2024 for AY 2012-13 passed u/s. 250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”). 2. At the outset, we note that there is a delay in filing the appeals by the revenue of 85 days in respect of AY 2011-12 and 86 days in respect of AY 2012-13. We have perused the condonation petitions filed by the revenue seeking the condoning the delay. After hearing both the sides and after considering the condonation petitions, we are inclined to condone 2 CO Nos. 55-57/Kol/2024 ITA No. 2180 to 2182/Kol/2024& Uniglobal Papers Pvt. Ltd., AYs 2011-12 to 2013-14 the delay on the ground of reasons for delay have been explained and appear to be genuine and bonafide. Accordingly, the delay is condoned and the appeals are admitted for adjudication. ITA No.2180/Kol/2024 A.Y.2011-12. 3. The revenue has filed appeal before us challenging the deletion of addition to the tune of Rs.2,71,00,000/- by Ld. CIT(A) as made by the AO u/s. 68 of the Act in respect of bogus unsecured loans. 4. The facts in brief are that the assessee filed the return of income u/s. 139(1) of the Act on 24.09.2011 declaring total loss of Rs. 3,15,69,270/-. A search action u/s. 132 of the Act was conducted on 09.09.2015 and subsequent dates on UNIGLOBAL GROUP of which the assessee is a related entity. Accordingly notice u/s. 153A of the Act was issued which was duly served. The assessee complied with the said notice by filing a return of income declaring loss of Rs. 1,60,48,955/- on 18.08.2017. Thereafter, statutory notices were issued along with questionnaires which were duly complied and replied by the assessee. Pertinent to state that the impugned assessment is an unabated assessment on the date of search as there were no pending proceeding on the date of search and also the time period prescribed under the Act for issuing notice u/s. 143(2) had also expired. The AO after taking into account the contentions and submissions of the assessee made addition to the income in respect of share capital application money. 5. The Ld. CIT(A) in the appellate proceeding allowed the appeal of the assessee on legal issue as well as on merit. So far as the legal issue is concerned, Ld. CIT(A) directed the AO to delete the addition in respect of share application money on the ground that the addition was not linked to any incriminating materials found and seized during the course of search but are based on post search enquiries and statements recorded during that enquiry. On merits ld. CIT(A) deleted the additions on the ground that the assessee has proved the necessary ingredients as envisaged u/s 68 of the Act and AO has not brought any substantive materials/evidences on records to the contrary. 3 CO Nos. 55-57/Kol/2024 ITA No. 2180 to 2182/Kol/2024& Uniglobal Papers Pvt. Ltd., AYs 2011-12 to 2013-14 6. After hearing the rival contentions and perusing the material available on record, we find that the return of income was filed u/s 139(1) of the Act on 24.09.2011. A search action u/s 132(1) was conducted on the assessee on 09.09.2015. So on the date of search there were no pending proceedings before the AO qua this assessment year and also that the time limit for issuing notice u/s 143(2) had already expired. Therefore the impugned assessment was unabated on the date of search or had attained finality in terms provisions of section 153A of the Act. Now the issue before us for adjudication is whether the AO has jurisdiction to make additions without there being any incriminating materials seized during the search. In our opinion the addition in case of unabated assessment can only be made with reference to incriminating materials seized during search and not otherwise. We note that in the appellate order, Ld. CIT(A) has clearly recorded a finding of fact that AO has not referred to any incriminating materials found during the course of search qua the share application . Accordingly, we are in agreement with the Ld. CIT(A) that addition in case of unabated assessment year can only be made on the basis of search material found and seized during search. The case of the assessee is squarely covered by the decision of Hon’ble Supreme Courtin the case of “Pr. CIT Vs. Abhiser Buildwell (P) Ltd.” [2023] 149 taxmann.com 399 (SC), wherein the Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that in the case of non-abated/completed assessments, no addition can be made by the Assessing Officer in an assessment carried out u/s.153A of the Act in the absence of any incriminating material found during the search action which has been respectfully followed by the ld. CIT(A) while deleting the additions. The order passed by the ld. CIT(A) appears to be correct and therefore the appeal of the revenue is dismissed by upholding the order of ld. CIT(A). 7. The issues raised in all other appeals in ITA No.2181,2182/Kol/2024 for A.Y. 2012-13 and 2013-14 are substantially similar as decided by us in ITA No. 2180/Kol/2024 A.Y. 2011-12, therefore our decision in ITA No. 2180/Kol/2024 would apply, mutatis mutandis, to other appeals as well. Accordingly, all the appeals of the revenue are dismissed. 8. The Cross Objections Nos. 55, 56 & 57/KOL/2024 AY 11-12 to 13-14 are filed by the assessee in support of the orders of the ld. CIT(A). Since, we have dismissed the appeals of 4 CO Nos. 55-57/Kol/2024 ITA No. 2180 to 2182/Kol/2024& Uniglobal Papers Pvt. Ltd., AYs 2011-12 to 2013-14 the Revenue by upholding the orders of the CIT (A) in all these assessment years, therefore, these cross objections become infructuous and dismissed. 8. In the result, appeals of the Revenue and cross objection of the assessee are dismissed. Order is pronounced in the open court on 06.01.2025 Sd/- Sd/- (Pradip Kumar Choubey) (Rajesh Kumar) Judicial Member Accountant Member Dated: 06.01.2025 JD, Sr. PS Copy of the order forwarded to: 1. Appellant–ITO, Ward-3(1), Kolkata 2. Respondent – Uniglobal Papers Pvt. Ltd., 3. CIT(A), Kolkata-21 4. Pr. CIT 5. DR, ITAT, Kolkata, True Copy By Order Assistant Registrar ITAT, Kolkata Bench, Kolkata "