Bhavna Investment Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad V. The Income Tax Officer, Ward-1(4), Ahmedabad

ITA 1454/AHD/2016

• Counselvise Citation: [2019] 118 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 4104 (ITAT-AHMEDABAD)
• Duration Of Justice: 2 year(s) 8 month(s) 14 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 15-02-2019
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: SMC
• Assessment Year: 2005-2006
• Appeal Filed On: 01-06-2016
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: SONIA KUMAR
• Keywords: Validity of assessment; Accommodation entries
• Section: 147; 148; 143(3); 143(1)

Judgement Text

, SMC IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL SMC BENCH, AHMEDABAD BEFORE SHRI PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER & SHRI MAHAVIR PRASAD, JUDICIAL MEMBER ./ I.T.A. NO. 1454/AHD/2016 ( ASSESSMENT YEAR : 2005-06) BHAVNA INVESTMENT PVT. LTD. B/801/2, SUKH TOWER, MIRAMBICA- SCHOOL ROAD, NARANPURA, AHMEDABAD - 380013 / VS. THE INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD-1(4), AHMEDABAD. ./ ./ PAN/GIR NO. : AAACB6298E ( APPELLANT ) .. ( / RESPONDENT ) / APPELLANT BY : ASEEM L. THAKKAR, AR / RESPONDENT BY : SONIA KUMAR, SR. DR DATE OF HEARING 22/01/2019 !'# / DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT 15/02/2019 / O R D E R PER PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA - AM: THE CAPTIONED APPEAL HAS BEEN FILED AT THE INSTANCE OF THE ASSESSEE AGAINST THE ORDER OF THE CIT(A)-01, AHMEDA BAD (CIT(A) IN SHORT), DATED 23.03.2016 ARISING IN THE REASSESSMEN T ORDER DATED 25.03.2013 PASSED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER (AO) UND ER S. 143(3) READ WITH SECTION 147 OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961 (THE A CT) CONCERNING A.Y. 2005-06. ITA NO.1454/AHD/2016 BHAVNA INVESTMENT PVT. LTD. VS. ITO] A.Y. 2005-06 - 2 - 2. THE GROUNDS OF APPEAL RAISED BY THE ASSESSEE AR E TWOFOLD; (I) CHALLENGING THE LEGALITY OF ASSESSMENT OF JURISDICT ION UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT AND (II) CHALLENGING ACTION OF THE A SSESSING OFFICER (AO) IN MAKING CERTAIN ADDITIONS ON MERITS IN PURSU ANCE OF ASSESSMENT OF JURISDICTION UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT. 3. WHEN MATTER WAS CALLED FOR HEARING, THE LD. A R FOR THE ASSESSEE AT THE OUTSET CHALLENGED THE ACTION OF THE AO IN US URPING JURISDICTION UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT WRONGFULLY. THE LD. A R CONTENDED THAT THE REASONS RECORDED BY THE AO DOES NOT MEET THE PR E-REQUISITES FOR ASSUMPTION OF JURISDICTION AND THEREFORE THE NOTICE ISSUED PURSUANT TO SUCH RECORDINGS OF REASONS IS BAD IN LAW. IT WAS T HUS SUBMITTED THAT THE CONSEQUENT REASSESSMENT ORDER IS WITHOUT AUTHOR ITY OF LAW. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE LD. AR ADVERTED OUR ATTENTION TO THE REASONS RECORDED UNDER SECTION 148(2) OF THE ACT DATED 26/0 3/2012 AND CONTENDED THAT THE BARE READING OF THE REASONS RECO RDED WOULD SHOW THAT THE AO BASED ON CERTAIN INFORMATION RECEIVED F ROM ANOTHER AO HAS PROPOSED TO REOPEN THE CASE FOR MERE VERIFICAT ION OF THE CONCERNS OF INVESTMENT AND GENUINENESS OF THE SAME. THE LD. AR THUS SUBMITTED THAT IT IS OSTENSIBLE FROM THE REASONS RE CORDED THAT THE AO DID NOT FORM ANY FIRM REASONS TO BELIEVE CONTEMPL ATED UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT TOWARDS ESCAPEMENT OF INCOME. THE P LAIN READING OF THE REASONS PROVIDED WOULD OVERTLY SHOW THAT THE AO MERELY WANTED TO MAKE ENQUIRY TO FIND OUT THE CORRECTNESS OF THE INFORMATION SO RECEIVED FROM OTHER AO. THE LD. AR ACCORDINGLY SUB MITTED THAT A BONA FIDE BELIEF TOWARDS ESCAPEMENT OF INCOME IS CLEARLY ABSENT IN THE CASE. THE LD. AR ACCORDINGLY SUBMITTED THAT TH E ENTIRE ACTION OF THE AO IS A COMPLETE NON-STARTER AND REQUIRES TO BE STRUCK DOWN. IN THIS CONTEXT, THE LD. AR ADVERTED OUR ATTENTION TO THE JUDGMENT OF THE HONBLE GUJARAT HIGH COURT IN SUNRISE EDUCATION TRU ST VS. ITO (EXEMPTION) [2018] 92 TAXMANN.COM 74 (GUJARAT) FOR THE PROPOSITION THAT REASSESSMENT NOTICE FOR MERE VERIFICATION OR F OR FISHING ENQUIRY IS ITA NO.1454/AHD/2016 BHAVNA INVESTMENT PVT. LTD. VS. ITO] A.Y. 2005-06 - 3 - NOT PERMISSIBLE IN LAW NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THE RET URN WAS NOT SCRUTINIZED BEFORE ITS ACCEPTANCE ORIGINALLY. THE LD. AR ALSO REFERRED TO ANOTHER DECISION OF HONBLE GUJARAT HIGH COURT I N THE CASE OF PRINCIPAL CIT VS. KRUPESH GHANSHYAMBHAI THAKKAR VS. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX [2017] 77 TAXMANN.COM 29 3(GUJARAT) AND OTHER JUDGMENT DATED 07/05/2018 IN WHICH CASE A LSO, THE ACTION OF AO TO REOPEN THE ASSESSMENT FOR BRIEF VERIFICATION OF INFORMATION RECEIVED WAS NOT APPROVED. THE LD. AR ACCORDINGLY CONTENDED THAT THE ACTION OF THE AO FOR ASSESSMENT OF JURISDICTION IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE MANDATE OF LAW AND THEREFORE REQUIRES TO B E QUASHED. 4. THE LD. DR ON THE OTHER HAND RELIED UPON THE O RDERS OF THE AUTHORITIES BELOW. 5. WE HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE RIVAL SUBMISS IONS. WE HAVE ALSO PERUSED THE REASONS RECORDED FOR ISSUANCE OF N OTICE UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT WHICH IS UNDER CHALLENGE. IT WILL B E APT TO REPRODUCE REASONS RECORDED HEREUNDER:- THE ASSESSEE COMPANY HAS FILED ITS RETURN OF INCOM E FOR ABOVE ASSESSMENT ON 29/10/2005 DECLARING TOTAL INCOME OF RS. 18,743/0. THE RETURN WAS PROCESSED U/S. 143(1) OF THE I.T. ACT. SCRUTINY ASSESSMENT U/S 143(3) WAS ALSO COMPLETED ON 27/09/2007 ACCEPTING RETURNED INCOME. 2. INFORMATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE ITO,WD. 8(3),AHMEDABAD THAT DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF SHANTISURI SECURITIES PVT. LTD. (SSPL) FOR A.Y. 2005-06, IT W AS FOUND THAT SAID COMPANY HAD RECEIVED RS. 4,06,95,000/- AS SHARE CA PITAL FROM VARIOUS ENTITIES DURING PREVIOUS YEAR RELEVANT TO A.Y.2005 -06. DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDING, A DETAILED INQUIRY HAD A LSO BEEN CARRIED OUT AS A RESULT OF WHICH IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE SOURCE COMPANIES WERE MERE PAPER COMPANIES, HAVING NO REAL BUSINESS OR PROFES SION. THE CONCERNS HAD BEEN MERELY FLOATED AND CHANNELIZE THE INTRODUCTIO N OF UNACCOUNTED CASH INTO BOOKS OF VARIOUS BENEFIT SEEKERS. FURTHER, THE STATEMENT ON OATH OF ONE OF THE DIRE CTOR OF SHANTISURI SECURITIES PVT. LTD. WAS ALSO RECORDED DURING THE ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS WHEREIN HE ADMITTED TO THE EFFECT THAT THE PARTIES WHO HAD ALLEGEDLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SHARE CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY WE RE EITHER BOGUS OR WERE ENTRY GIVERS ONLY. IN HIS STATEMENT, HE FURTHER DI SCLOSED MODUS OPERANDI OF SUCH ENTRIES GIVING BY STATING THAT WHEN SUCH E NTRY SEEKERS APPROACHED HIM TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION ENTRIES TO THEM EITHE R IN THE FORM OF SHARE CAPITAL OR AS LOANS AND ADVANCES FOR A FIXED PERCE NTAGE OF COMMISSION. ITA NO.1454/AHD/2016 BHAVNA INVESTMENT PVT. LTD. VS. ITO] A.Y. 2005-06 - 4 - SINCE HE DID NOT HAVE THE CASH TO PROVIDE THE SAME , HE ACCEPTED CASH FROM THESE PARTIES AND HANDED OVER TO THE VARIOUS PARTI ES WHO HAD DEPOSITED THE CASH IN THEIR OWN COMPANIES AND IN TURN INVEST ED IN HIS COMPANY AS SHARE CAPITAL. THIS MONEY WAS FORWARDED BY SHANTIS URI SECURITIES PVT. LTD. (SSPL) AS LOANS AND ADVANCES TO VARIOUS PARTI ES WHO HAD GIVEN HIM CASH IN THE FIRST PLACE. THROUGH ABOVE MODUS OPERA NDI, BHAVANA INVESTMENT PVT. LTD.- PAN- AAACB6298E- HAS MADE IN VESTMENT OF RS. 5,00,000/- AS SHARE CAPITAL OF SHANTISURI SECURITI ES PVT. LTD. IN A.Y.2005-06. 3. ON THE BASIS OF RETURN OF INCOME SO FILED, IT I S FOUND THAT THE ASSESSEE COMPANY HAS DECLARED SAID INVESTMENT OF RS. 5,00,0 00/- MADE IN ACQUIRING SHARES OF SSPL IN ITS BALANCE SHEET. HOW EVER, CONSIDERING THE DEPOSITION OF THE DIRECTOR OF SHANTISURI SECURITIE S PVT. LTD AS DISCUSSED ABOVE, THE SOURCE OF INVESTMENT OF RS. 5,00,000/- MADE IN ACQUIRING SHARES OF SAID COMPANY REQUIRES TO BE VERIFIED IN THE CASE OF BHAVNA INVESTMENT PVT. LTD. FOR A.Y.2005-06 4. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE , I HAVE EVERY REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT THE INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE COMPANY TO THE ABOVE EXTENT OF RS. 5, 00,000/- HAS ESCAPED ASSESSMENT AND THE CASE IS THEREFORE, REQUIRED TO BE REOPENED U/S.147 OF THE IT. ACT BY WAY OF ISSUING NOTICE U/S 148 OF TH E IT ACT. 6. A BARE GLANCE OF THE REASONS RECORDED GIVES AN U NFLINCHING IMPRESSION THAT THE POWERS EXERCISED UNDER SECTION 147 WAS FOR DETAILED VERIFICATION OF THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE REFERENCE MADE TO THE AO HEREIN BY ANOTHER AO. THUS, IT IS SELF EVID ENT THAT NO DEFINITE FORMATION OF BELIEF TOWARDS ESCAPEMENT OF INCOME WA S MADE AT THE TIME OF ISSUANCE OF NOTICE BY THE AO. THE AO HAS N OT EVEN COME TO A PRIMA FACIE CONCLUSION TOWARDS ESCAPEMENT OF INCOME . WHAT THE AO INTENDED IS TO MAKE OBJECTIVE INQUIRY INTO THE CORR ECTNESS OF THE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM OTHER WING OF THE DEPARTM ENT AND FIND OUT IF THERE IS ANY ESCAPEMENT OF INCOME. THE AO MERELY S EEKS TO CONCLUDE THAT THERE IS A CASE FOR INVESTIGATION TO UNEARTH T RUTH OF ALLEGED TRANSACTIONS. THIS IS NOT THE SAME THING AS SAYING THAT THERE ARE REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT SOME CHARGEABLE INCOME HA S ESCAPED ASSESSMENT. OSTENSIBLY, THE AO AT BEST HAS MADE OU T A CASE OF PROBABLE ESCAPEMENT IN DISTINCTION TO A DEFINITE CO NCLUSION OF ESCAPEMENT OF INCOME. THUS, THE REQUIREMENT OF SEC TION 147 IS CLEARLY NOT FULFILLED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, PROVISIONS OF SECT ION 147 WHICH GIVES POWER TO REOPEN A COMPLETED ASSESSMENT CAN BE INVOK ED ONLY WHEN THE CONDITIONS PRECEDENT FOR EXERCISING THE JURISDICTIO N EXISTS. EXERCISE OF ITA NO.1454/AHD/2016 BHAVNA INVESTMENT PVT. LTD. VS. ITO] A.Y. 2005-06 - 5 - POWER UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT CANNOT BE MADE O N THE BASIS OF MERE IPSE DIXIT OF REVENUE. THE EVIDENCE OR INFORMATION FROM OTHE R AO IS NOT A REALIZATION PER SE . SUCH INFORMATION/EVIDENCE CAN POSSIBLY GIVE BIRTH TO REALIZATION OR BELIEF OF THE AO AS CONTEMPLATED UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT. HOWEVER, THE INDEPEN DENT FORMATION OF BELIEF THEREON IS SINE QUA NON FOR TAKING ACTION UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT. IT IS WELL SETTLED BY PLETHORA OF JUDICIA L PRECEDENTS THAT REOPENING IS NOT PERMISSIBLE MERELY TO SEEK INVESTI GATION OF FACTS COLLECTED WITHOUT HOLDING AT LEAST PRIMA FACIE BELI EF BASED ON RELEVANT MATERIAL TOWARDS ESCAPEMENT OF INCOME. THE CONDITI ONS SET OUT HAVE NOT BEEN MET IN THE INSTANT CASE. HENCE, THE NOTIC E ISSUED UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT IS NOT BACKED BY AUTHORITY O F LAW AND CONSEQUENTLY BAD IN LAW. 7. THE ASSESSMENT UNDER SECTION 147 AS A SEQUEL TO THE ILLEGAL NOTICE UNDER SECTION 148 IS THEREFORE NULL VOID AND REQUIRES TO BE QUASHED. 8. IN THE RESULT, THE ASSESSEE SUCCEEDS ON LEGAL GR OUND TOWARDS VALIDITY OF JURISDICTION UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE A CT. HENCE WE DO NOT CONSIDER IT NECESSARY TO DWELL UPON THE MERITS OF T HE CASE. 9. IN THE RESULT, APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE IS ALLOWED . SD/- SD/- (MAHAVIR PRASAD) (PRADIP KUMA R KEDIA) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AHMEDABAD: DATED 15/02/2019 TANMAY TRUE COPY !'#' / COPY OF ORDER FORWARDED TO:- &. / REVENUE 2. / ASSESSEE (. )*+ , / CONCERNED CIT 4. ,- / CIT (A) THIS ORDER PRONOUNCED IN OPEN COURT ON 15/02/ 2019 ITA NO.1454/AHD/2016 BHAVNA INVESTMENT PVT. LTD. VS. ITO] A.Y. 2005-06 - 6 - /. 012 33*+4 *+#4 56) / DR, ITAT, AHMEDABAD 7. 289 : / GUARD FILE. BY ORDER / 4 /5 *+#4 56)