Devendra Kumar Shroff, Kolkata V. ITO, WD-7(2), KOLKATA, Kolkata

ITA 158/KOL/2016

• Counselvise Citation: [2020] 111 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 4168 (ITAT-KOLKATA)
• Duration Of Justice: 4 year(s) 22 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 26-02-2020
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Partly Allowed
• Bench Allotted: C
• Next Hearing Date: 21-08-2019
• Assessment Year: 2008-2009
• Appeal Filed On: 04-02-2016
• Result in Favour of: Partly Allowed
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: SHRIJAYANTAKHANRA
• Assessee Lawyers: SHRISUBASHAGARWAL
• Keywords: Sale consideration of property below Jantri Value; Capital asset; Salary income; Diversion of income; Cost of acquisition; Fair market value; Bad and doubtful debts; Corroborative evidences; Valuation report; Assessment record; Capital Gains
• Section: 143(3); 50C; 142(1); 191; 48; 13(2); 13; 22; 147; 148

Judgement Text

1 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 , C , IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL C BENCH: KOL KATA ( )BEFORE . , /AND . ! . ' , ) [BEFORE SHRI J. SUDHAKAR REDDY, AM &SHRI A. T. VARK EY, JM] I.T.A. NO. 158/KOL/2016 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2008-09 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF (PAN: ALGPS4538J) VS. INCOME-TAX OFFICER, WARD-7(2), KOLKATA APPELLANT RESPONDENT DATE OF HEARING 27.12.2019 DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT 26.02.2020 FOR THE APPELLANT SHRISUBASHAGARWAL, ADVOCATE FOR THE RESPONDENT SHRIJAYANTAKHANRA, JCIT, SR. DR ORDER PER SHRIA.T.VARKEY, JM THIS APPEAL PREFERRED BY THE ASSESSEE IS AGAINST TH E ORDER OF THE LD. CIT(A)-11, KOLKATA DATED 30.12.2015 FOR AY 2008-09. 2. AT THE OUTSET, THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE PRAYED BEFORE THE BENCH FOR ADMISSION OF THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL GROUNDS OF APPEAL: 1. FOR THAT ON THE FACTS AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, THE LD. AO ERRED IN PASSING OF THE ORDER U/S. 147/143(3) DATED 18.12 .2013 WITHOUT ISSUING THE STATUTORY NOTICE U/S. 143(2), AND AS SUCH THE REASS ESSMENT ORDER PASSED BY HIM IS BAD IN LAW AND VOID AB INITIO. 2. FOR THAT THE REASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 18.12.2013 IS BAD IN LAW AND IS LIABLE TO BE QUASHED IN THE ABSENCE OF RECORDING OF REASO NS TO BELIEF. 3. SINCE WE NOTE THAT THE AFORESAID ADDITIONAL GROU NDS ARE PURELY LEGAL IN NATURE, WE ADMIT THE SAME AND HAD DIRECTED THE DEPARTMENT TO P RODUCE THE ASSESSMENT RECORDS OF THE ASSESSEE TO ADJUDICATE THE LEGAL ISSUE. TODAY WHE N THE ASSESSMENT RECORDS WERE PRODUCED BY THE DEPARTMENT (ON THE DATE OF HEARING), THE LD. AR INSPECTED THE ASSESSMENT RECORDS AND DOES NOT WANT TO PRESS THE AFORESAID LEGAL ISSUES. SO, WE DISMISS THESE LEGAL ISSUES RAISED BEFORE US. 2 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 4. COMING TO THE MAIN GRIEVANCE OF THE ASSESSEE WH ICH IS AGAINST THE ACTION OF LD. CIT(A) IN CONFIRMING THE ACTION OF AO IN MAKING ADD ITION OF RS.1,25,42,334/- AS LONG TERM CAPITAL GAIN (HEREINAFTER LTCG) FROM SALE OF P ROPERTY WHEN, ACCORDING TO ASSESSEE, THERE WAS DIVERSION OF INCOME DUE TO OVERRIDING TIT LE. 5. BRIEFLY STATED FACTS OF THE CASE AS EMANATING FR OM THE ASSESSMENT ORDER PASSED U/S. 143(3) OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 (HEREINAFTER REF ERRED TO AS THE ACT) ARE THAT IN THIS CASE NOTICE U/S. 142(1) WAS ISSUED CALLING FOR SUBMISSIO N OF RETURN, SINCE THE ASSESSEE DID NOT FILE HIS RETURN OF INCOME FOR THIS ASSESSMENT YEAR. THE SAID NOTICE U/S. 142(1) WAS SERVED UPON THE ASSESSEE ON 25.03.2010. IN RESPONSE, THE ASSES SEE FILED THE RETURN OF INCOME FOR THE AY 2008-09 WHICH WAS RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE OF THE AO ON 04.05.2010. IN THE SAID RETURN THE ASSESSEE HAD SHOWN A TOTAL INCOME OF RS.58,974/-. O N PERUSAL OF THE RETURN OF INCOME FURNISHED BY THE ASSESSEE IT WAS FOUND BY THE AO TH AT THE ASSESSEE HAS SHOWN INCOME FROM SALARY OF RS.1,50,000/- WHICH WAS RECEIVED FROM M/S . PRAGATI PRINTERS PVT. LTD. (HEREINAFTER CALLED AS M/S. PPPL). ASSESSEE HAD FILED THE FOL LOWING COMPUTATION OF INCOME SHEET ALONG WITH THE RETURN OF INCOME FILED, WHICH IS REP RODUCED BY THE AO IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDER AS UNDER: INCOME FROM SALARY (NET) INCOME FROM BUSINESS (A) LTCG FOR LAND AT BERABERI: SALE CONSIDERATION OF LAND LESS: COST OF ACQUISITION RS.29,16,175/- X 551/406 (B) LTCG FOR LAND AT VIP ROAD: SALE CONSIDERATION OF LAND LESS COST OF ACQUISITION RS.8,00,000/-X551/406 TOTAL OF (A) + (B) INCOME FROM OTHER SOURCES GROSS TOTAL INCOME RS. 1,48,680/- (-) RS.(1,55,46,342.57) RS.1,65,00,000/- RS. 39,57,666/- RS.1,25,42,334/- RS.36,00,000/- RS.44,08,000/- RS.8,08,000/- RS.1,17,34,334/- RS.3,285/- RS.1,48,680/- 3 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 6. ACCORDING TO AO, THE DETAILS FILED ALONG WITH TH E RETURN OF INCOME REFLECTS THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS CLAIMED A BAD DEBT LOSS OF (-) RS.1,55 ,46,342.57/-. ACCORDING TO AO, THE CLAIM OF BAD DEBTS LOSS REQUIRED FURTHER VERIFICATION AS NO SUBSTANTIVE EVIDENCES WERE FILED ALONG WITH THE RETURN OF INCOME. THE AO ALSO NOTED THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD CLAIMED WRONG INDEXATION IN THE CASE OF THE SALE OF LAND AT VIP R OAD, WHICH IS INACCURATE AND INCORRECT AND FURNISHED WRONG CALCULATION/COMPUTATION. ACCORDING TO AO, ON PERUSAL OF THE DETAILS FILED ALONG WITH THE RETURN OF INCOME, THE AO HAD REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT INCOME HAS ESCAPED ASSESSMENT. THE REASONS FOR REOPENING THE PROCEEDI NG AND INITIATING ACTION U/S. 147 OF THE ACT WAS RECORDED, WHICH IS AS UNDER: THE INDEXATION DONE IN THE SALE OF LAND AT VIP IS INACCURATE AND INCORRECT FURNISHING OF PARTICULARS WHICH AMPLY BROUGHT FORWA RD THE FACT THAT THERE WERE REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT INCOME HAS ESCAPED ASSESSME NT. ASSESSEE HAS SET OFF THE NON-EXISTENT BAD DEBTS LOSS OF (-) RS.1,55,46,342.5 7 WITH THAT OF THE LTCG OF RS.1,17,34,334/-. 7. THE AO ALSO RECORDED THE FOLLOWING FOR INITIATIN G THE PROCEEDINGS U/S. 147 OF THE ACT: ON PERUSAL OF THE DETAILS FILED ALONG WITH THE CO PY OF THE RETURN, IT IS SEEN THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS NO BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND WITHOUT A NY BUSINESS ACTIVITY, ASSESSEE CANNOT CLAIM DEDUCTIONS OF ANY BAD DEBTS. THE COPY OF STATEMENT HAD NO SUPPORTING EVIDENCES OR PARTICULARS OF HAVING CARRI ED ANY BUSINESS ACTIVITY DURING THE YEAR OR ANY PREVIOUS YEARS. EVEN AFTER PROPER PERUSAL IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CALCULATION OF INDEXATION IN VIP ROAD LAND IS INACCURATE. THERE WERE ENOUGH REASONS FOR REOPENING. THUS THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAD REASONS TO BELIEVE T HAT THE ASSESSEE HAS FURNISHED INACCURATE PARTICULARS AND HAS REASONS TO BELIEVE T HAT INCOME CHARGEABLE TO TAX HAS ESCAPED ASSESSMENT FOR THE AY 20-08-09. IT IS A FIT CASE FOR ISSUANCE OF NOTICE U/S. 148 FOR PROCEEDINGS U/S. 147 OF THE INC OME TAX ACT, 1961. 8. FINALLY, A SHOW CAUSE NOTICE WAS ISSUED TO THE A SSESSEE AND ASKING HIM TO EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING: I) WHAT ARE THE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD CARRIED OUT IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS? II) WHAT ARE THE BUSINESS LOSSES THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD TO INCUR IN HIS OWN BUSINESS BEING THE SOLE PROPRIETOR, OWNER OF SUCH B USINESS ACTIVITY? III) WHAT ARE THE BAD DEBT LOSSES THAT THE ASSESSEE INCU RRED DURING THE YEAR IN CONTENTION IN HAVING CONDUCTED ANY LOSS AS BEING THE OWNER/PROPRIETOR? 4 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 IV) THE BALANCE SHEET OF M/S. PRAGATI PRINTERS PVT. LTD . ALSO DOES NOT SHOW ANY ACCOUNTS THAT SUBSTANTIATES YOUR CLAIM. V) YOU ARE ASKED TO EXPLAIN AS TO WHY THE BAD DEBTS LO SS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE AS SUCH LOSS WAS NOT INCU RRED BY THE ASSESSEE HIMSELF. VI) IT IS SEEN FROM THE COPY OF THE REGISTERED DEED DAT ED 16.08.2007 THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN SALE OF LAND PROPERTY HAVING DAG NO. 244 , R. S. KHATIAN NO. 191 AREA OF LAND 4 COTTAHS FOR A CONSIDERATION OF R S.36,00,000/- TO MAPLE VINCOM PVT. LIMITED WHEREAS THE STAMP VALUATI ON AUTHORITY HAS ASCERTAINED THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY AT RS.52,00,0 00/-. YOU ARE ASKED TO EXPLAIN AND RECONCILE WHY SUCH VALUE ASCERTAINED BY THE STAMP VALUATION AUTHORITY AS PER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 50C WILL NOT BE TREATED AS YOUR VALUE OF SALE OF THE PROPERTY AND TREATED ACCORDING LY. VII) IT IS SEEN FROM THE COPY OF THE REGISTERED DEED DAT ED 31.05.2007 THAT YOUR HAVE SHOWN SALE OF LAND PROPERTY OF ABOUT 1 BI GHA 11 COTTAHA 7 CHITTACKS 16 SQ. FT. HAVING JL NO. 2, R.S. KHATIAN NO. 1434, CS DAG NO. 5479, R.S. DAG NO. 3710, FOR A CONSIDERATION OF RS. 1,65,00,000/- TO SVARNA INFRASTRUCTURE & BUILDERS PVT. LTD. WHEREAS THE STAMP VALUATION AUTHORITY HAS ASCERTAINED THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY AT RS.1,65,00,000/-. YOU ARE ASKED TO EXPLAIN AS TO WHY CAPITAL GAIN WIL L NOT BE TREATED ACCORDINGLY. 9. PURSUANT TO THE AFORESAID QUERIES, THE ASSESSEE REPLIED VIDE HIS REPLY DATED 07.08.2013 (WHICH HAS BEEN REPRODUCED BY THE AO IN THE ASSESSM ENT ORDER AT PAGES 8 AND 9), THE AO CONDUCTED ENQUIRY FROM VARIOUS AUTHORITIES AND THE SBI AND SINCE BEING DISSATISFIED WITH THE REPLY OF THE ASSESSEE, THE AO COMPUTED THE INCO ME FROM CAPITAL GAIN FROM SALE OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTIES AT RS.1,64,40,806/- (LTCG FOR LAND AT BERABARI AT RS.1,25,42,334/- AND LTCG FOR LAND AT VIP ROAD AT RS.38,98,472/- THU S TOTAL RS.,1,64,40,806/-) AND HAD COMPUTED INCOME FROM SHORT TERM CAPITAL GAIN FROM S ALE OF FACTORY SHED AS IT IS A DEPRECIABLE ASSET AT RS.24,70,866/-. AGGRIEVED, TH E ASSESSEE PREFERRED AN APPEAL BEFORE THE LD. CIT(A) WHO WAS PLEASED TO PARTIALLY CONFIRM THE ACTION OF THE AO AND GAVE RELIEF OF RS.24,70,866/-. AGGRIEVED, THE ASSESSEE IS IN APPEA L BEFORE US IN RESPECT OF LTCG IN RESPECT OF TWO PROPERTIES. 10. FIRST WE WILL TAKE UP THE ADDITION CONFIRMED OF THE LTCG IN RESPECT OF LAND AT BERABARI. WE HAVE HEARD RIVAL SUBMISSIONS AND GONE THROUGH THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE. ACCORDING TO LD.AR THE BRIEF FACTS OF THE ISSUE BEFORE US IS THAT THE ASSESSEE AN 5 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS THE OWNER OF THE IMMOVABLE PROPE RTY AT BERABARIHAD MORTGAGED THE SAME AS SECURED ASSET (REFER PAGE 69-72) WITH THE S BI (LENDER OF LOAN) SINCE THE ASSESSEE STOOD AS GUARANTOR FOR THE LOAN TAKEN BY A CORPORAT E ENTITY M/S. PRAGATI PRINTERS PVT. LTD. FURTHER, ACCORDING TO LD.AR, WHEN THE LOAN TAKEN BY M/S. PRAGATI PRINTERS LTD. WAS CLASSIFIED BY THE LENDER AS A NON-PERFORMING ASSET, THE LENDER BANK I.E. SBI ISSUED NOTICE DATED 04.01.2007 U/S. 13(2) OF SECURITIZATION & RECONSTRU CTION OF FINANCE ASSET AND ENFORCEMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST ACT, 2002 (HEREINA FTER REFERRED TO AS SARFESI ACT AND PROCEEDED TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THEASSESSEES IMMOV ABLE PROPERTY AT BERABARI AND SEALED THE SAME BY SBI (REFER TO PAGE 79 OF PAPER BOOK). SINCE THE ASSESSEE HAD LEASED THE SAID IMMOVABLE PROPERTY TO THE M/S. PRAGATI PRINTERS PV T. LTD. THE SAME (LEASE) WAS SURRENDERED BACK BY M/S. PPPL TO ASSESSEE ON 31.05.2007 (REFER PAGES 74 TO 84 OF PAPER BOOK). AND ACCORDING TO LD. AR, SINCE THE INTEREST RATE ON THE LOAN GIVEN TO THE M/S. PPPL WAS RISING DAY BY DAY AND THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY OF ASSESSEE AT BERABARIMORTGAGED TO SBI WAS TAKEN POSSESSION AND SEALED BY THE BANK AFTER ISSUING NOT ICE U/S. 13(2) OF SARFESI ACT, THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY WAS SOLD TO M/S. SVARNA INFRASTR UCTURE & BUILDER (P) LTD. ON 31.05.2007. THE LD. AR POINTED OUT THAT BEFORE THE SAID SALE, THE LENDER (SBI) AGREED TO CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY PROVIDED THE PURCHASER MAKES GOOD THE OUTSTANDING LOAN AND DUES OF M/S. PPPL ARE PAID IN FULL BEFORE TRANSFER OF TH E IMMOVABLE PROPERTY. THE LD. AR DREW OUR ATTENTION TO THE RELEVANT PORTION OF THE SBI LE TTER TO PURCHASER M/S. SVARNA INFRASTRUCTURE & BUILDER (P) LTD. IS REPRODUCED AS UNDER : 6 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 11. THEREAFTER, THE LD. AR POINTED OUT THAT THE SAL E CONSIDERATION WAS DIRECTLY DEPOSITED BY THE PURCHASER M/S. SVARNA INFRASTRUCTURE & BUILD ER (P) LTD. (HEREINAFTER M/S. SVARNA) TO THE BANK BY RTGS AND THE ASSESSEE DID NOT RECEIVE A NY CONSIDERATION FROM THE SALE OF THIS IMMOVABLE PROPERTY AT BERABERI(REFER TO PAGES 67-68 OF PAPER BOOK). THUS ACCORDING TO LD.AR THE ASSESSEE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY SALE CONSIDE RATION ON THE TRANSFER OF HIS IMMOVABLE PROPERTY AT BERABARI, WHICH WAS MORTGAGED FOR THE LOAN TAKEN BY A LEGAL ENTITY M/S. PPPL. THE LD. AR SUBMITTED THAT THE AGGREGATE OUTSTANDING LOAN TAKEN FROM SBI AS ON 04.01.2007 WHEN THE BANK ISSUED NOTICE U/S. 13(2) OF SARFESI A CT WAS TO THE TUNE OF RS.1,76,46,438/- 7 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 AND THE SALE CONSIDERATION REMITTED DIRECTLY BY THE PURCHASER (M/S. SVARNA) TO SBI BANK BY RTGS WAS TO THE TUNE OF RS.1,65,00,000/- AS ON 31.0 5.2007. (PAGE 68 AND 69 OF PAPER BOOK). SO ACCORDING TO LD.AR THE ASSESSEESHRIDEVEN DRA KUMAR SHROFF DID NOT RECEIVE ANY AMOUNT AS SALE CONSIDERATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF SA ID LAND AT BERABARI TO M/S. SVARNA INFRASTRUCTURE & BUILDER (P) LTD., SINCE THE ENTIRE SALE CONSIDERATION WAS REMITTED TO THE SBI TO SQUARE UP THE LOAN LIABILITY OF 3 RD PARTY M/S. PPPL, SO THE AO/LD. CIT(A) ERRED IN LEV YING CAPITAL GAIN ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS MORTGAGED PROP ERTY OF ASSESSEE SITUATED AT BERABARI BECAUSE IN ORDER TO ATTRACT THE CHARGE OF TAX AS CA PITAL GAINS THERE MUST BE A TRANSFER AS A RESULT OF WHICH CONSIDERATION IS RECEIVED BY THE AS SESSEE OR ACCRUES TO THE ASSESSEE. FOR THE AFORESAID PROPOSITION OF LAW THE LD. AR RELIED ON THE FOLLOWING CASE LAWS : A) IN THE CASE OF ADDL. CIT VS. MOHANBHAIPAMABHAI ( 1997) 165 ITR166 (SC), AFFIRMED BY HONBLE SUPREME COURT IN MOHANBHAIPAMABHAI'S CAS E (SUPRA), HONBLEGUJARAT HIGH COURT HAVE STATED THE POSITION IN THE FOLLOWING WOR DS: 'BUT, SECTION 48 SHOWS THAT THE TRANSFER THAT IS CO NTEMPLATED BY SECTION 45 IS A TRANSFER AS A RESULT OF WHICH CONSIDERATION IS RECE IVED BY THE ASSESSEE OR ACCRUES TO THE ASSESSEE. SECTION 48 PROVIDES THE MO DE OF COMPUTATION OF CAPITAL GAINS BY ENACTING THAT THE INCOME CHARGEABLE TO TAX AS CAPITAL GAIN SHALL BE COMPUTED BY DEDUCTING FROM THE 'FULL VALUE OF THE C ONSIDERATION RECEIVED OR ACCRUING AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSFER OF THE CAPITAL ASSET' THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS, NAMELY: (I) EXPENDITURE INCURRED WHOLLY AND EXCLUSI VELY IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH TRANSFER; AND (II) THE COST OF ACQUISITION OF THE C APITAL ASSET AND THE COST OF ANY IMPROVEMENT THERETO. THE AMOUNTS SPECIFIED IN CLAUS ES (I) AND (II) ARE TO BE DEDUCTED FROM THE 'CONSIDERATION RECEIVED OR ACCRUI NG AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSFER OF THE CAPITAL ASSET' FOR THE PURPOSE OF D ETERMINING THE PROFITS OR GAINS CHARGEABLE TO TAX. IT IS, THEREFORE, CLEAR THAT THE TRANSFER OF A CAPITAL ASSET, IN ORDER TO ATTRACT THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX, MUST BE A T RANSFER AS A RESULT OF WHICH CONSIDERATION IS RECEIVED BY THE ASSESSEE OR ACCRUE S TO THE ASSESSEE. IF THERE IS NO CONSIDERATION RECEIVED OR ACCRUING TO THE ASSESS EE AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSFER, THE MACHINERY SECTION ENACTED IN SECTION 48 WOULD B E WHOLLY INAPPLICABLE AND IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO COMPUTE PROFITS OR GAINS A RISING FROM THE TRANSFER OF THE CAPITAL ASSET. THE TRANSACTION IN ORDER TO ATT RACT THE CHARGE OF TAX AS CAPITAL GAINS MUST, THEREFORE, CLEARLY BE SUCH THAT CONSIDE RATION IS RECEIVED BY THE ASSESSEE OR ACCRUES TO THE ASSESSEE AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSFER OF THE CAPITAL ASSET. WHERE TRANSFER CONSISTS IN EXTINGUISHMENT OF A RIGHT IN THE CAPITAL ASSET, THERE MUST BE AN ELEMENT OF CONSIDERATION FOR SUCH EXTINGUISHMENT, FOR THEN ONLY IT WOULD BE A TRANSFER EXIGIBLE TO CAPITAL GAI NS TAX. THIS VIEW IS CLEARLY 8 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 SUPPORTED BY A RECENT DECISION GIVEN BY A DIVISION BENCH OF THIS COURT IN COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX V. R. M. AMIN.' B) THEREAFTER, LD. AR CITED THE DECISION OF THE HON BLE KERALA HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. SMT. THRESSIAMMA ABRAHAM (1997) 227 ITR 802 (KER) WHICH FACTS ACCORDING TO LD. AR IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE CASE OF THE ASSESS EE BEFORE US. THE LD. AR POINTED OUT THAT THE ASSESSEE IN THAT CASE ALSO STOOD GUARANTOR AND HER IMMOVABLE PROPERTY WAS MORTGAGED TO THE KERALA FINANCIAL CORPORATION (LENDER) FOR THE L OAN GIVEN BY THE KERALA FINANCIAL CORPORATION TO A THIRD PARTY, M/S. NATIONAL TYRE AN D RUBBER CO. INDIA LTD. THE ENTIRE SALE PROCEEDS OF THE ASSESSEE'S PROPERTY WENT INTO THE A PPROPRIATION BY THE LENDER I.E. KERALA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND, THUS, ASSESSEE DID NOT R ECEIVE A SINGLE PIE. THEREAFTER THE AMOUNT OF LOAN WAS CREDITED IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT OF M/S . NATIONAL TYRE& RUBBER CO. INDIA LTD. IN THE NAME OF THE ASSESSEE UNDER THE HEAD 'UNSECU RED LOANS'. ON THESE FACTS THE ASSESSING OFFICER HELD THAT IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THE SALE PROCEEDS WERE CREDITED IN THE ASSESSEE'S NAME IN THE ACCOUNT OF M/S. NATIONAL TYRE AND RUBBE R CO. INDIA LTD., THE ASSESSEE SHOULD BE DEEMED TO HAVE RECEIVED THE ENTIRE SALE PROCEEDS . THE ASSESSING OFFICER, THEREFORE, COMPUTED CAPITAL GAIN ON SALE PROCEEDS OF RS.13,12, 414 AT RS. 12,62,414. THE LD.CIT(A) HELD THAT THERE WAS NO PERSONAL OBLIGATION OF SMT. THRESSIAMMA ABRAHAM (THE ASSESSEE) TO DISCHARGE THE LIABILITY OF M/S. NATIONAL TYRE& RUBB ER CO. INDIA LTD. AND THERE WAS A CONSTRUCTIVE RECEIPT OF THE ENTIRE MONEYBY THE ASSE SSEE. ON ASSESSEE'S APPEAL THE TRIBUNAL HELD THAT THE ASSESSEE'S FULL OWNERSHIP STOOD DIMINISHED BY REASON OF TRANSFER OF INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY BY WAY OF MORTGAGE AND, THEREFORE, THE RE WAS EXPENDITURE INCURRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRANSFERRING THE FULL OWNER HIP RIGHT IN THE PROPERTY . AGAINST THESE FINDINGS OF THE TRIBUNAL THE REVENUE TOOK UP THE MATTER IN REFE RENCE TO HON'BLE KERALA HIGH COURT. THE REVENUE, INTER ALIA, CONTENDED THAT THE ASSESSEE WA S NOT ENTITLED TO THE DEDUCTION OF THE AMOUNT PAID TO KERALA FINANCIAL CORPORATION FOR DIS CHARGE OF MORTGAGE AS DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 48(1)(A)(Z) OF THE ACT FROM THE SALE CONSID ERATION BECAUSE SUCH DEDUCTION WAS IMPERMISSIBLE IN THE LIGHT OF EARLIER HONBLEKERALA HIGH COURTS DECISION IN THE CASE OF AMBATECHUKUTTYMENONVS. CIT (1978) 111 ITR 880 AND T HE HONBLESUPREME COURT DECISION IN THE CASE OF CITV. GEORGE HENDERSON & CO . LTD. [1967] 66 ITR 622. THE HON'BLE KERALA HIGH COURT OBSERVED THAT THE TRIBUNAL APPEAR ED TO HAVE BEEN PROCEEDING IN WHOLLY 9 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 UNNECESSARY DIRECTION OF STATUTORY PROVISIONS RELAT ING TO THE DEDUCTION FROM THE FULL VALUE OF THE CONSIDERATION BY RESORTING TO SECTION 48 OF THE ACT. THE HONBLE HIGH COURT HELD THAT KERALA FINANCIAL CORPORATION WAS ACTING ON THE BASI S OF THE OVERRIDING TITLE RESULTING INTO ASSESSEE RECEIVING NOT A SINGLE PIE FROM THE SALE P ROCEEDS. AS TO THE RELIANCE PLACED BY THE REVENUE ON THE JUDGMENTS OF THE KERALA HIGH COURT I N THE CASES OF AMBATECHUKUTTYMENON (SUPRA), SALAYMOHAMAD IBRAHIM SAITVS. ITO (1994) 2 10 ITR 700 AND K. V. IDICULLA VS. CIT (1995) 214 ITR 386 THE HON'BLE KERALA HIGH COUR T FOUND THAT THE FACTS IN THOSE CASES WERE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AS THOSE CASES RELATED TO T HE QUESTION OF DEDUCTION FROM THE FULL VALUE OF CONSIDERATION, THE SITUATION IN THE CASE OF SMT. THRESSIAMMAABRAHAM(SUPRA) WAS DIVERSION OF AMOUNTS AT SOURCE BY OVERRIDING THE TITLE. C) THEREAFTER, THE LD. AR CITED THE CASE OF GOPEENA TH PAUL & SONS VS. DY. CIT (2005) 278 ITR 240 (CAL) AND DRAWN OUR ATTENTION TO THE FA CTS OF THE CASE RECORDED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT IN THE FOLLOWING WORDS: 'IT APPEARS FROM THE MATERIALS ON RECORD THAT THERE WAS A SUIT BETWEEN THE ALLAHABAD BANK AND GOBINDO SHEET METAL. IN THE SAID SUIT THE ALLAHABAD BANK CLAIMED CERTAIN AMOUNT TO THE EXTENT OF RS. 25,00,000 APPROX. ON AC COUNT OF GOBINDO SHEET METAL'S LIABILITY TOWARDS THE-LOAN OBTAINED FROM THE ALLAHA BAD BAN WHICH WAS SOUGHT TO BE RECOVERED TOGETHER WITH A DECLARATION OF HYPOTHECAT ION OF CERTAIN MOVABLE GOODS INCLUDING STOCK-IN-TRADE. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE W AS ANOTHER SUIT IN WHICH AN ARBITRATION AGREEMENT WAS .SOUGHT TO BE FILED ON AC COUNT OF DISPUTE INCLUDING THE DISPUTE INVOLVED IN RESPECT OF THE DISSOLUTION OF T HE TWO FIRMS, GOPEENATH PAUL AND SONS AND GOBINDO SHEET METAL WORKS AND FOUNDRY BETW EEN THE PARTNERS OF THERESPECTIVE TWO FIRMS, I.E., THE PARTIES WHO WERE COMMON. IN THE LATTER SUIT, THERE WAS A COMPROMISE IN WHICH BOTH THE FIRMS STOOD DISS OLVED FROM THE DATE AGREED IN THE TERMS OF SETTLEMENT AND THE RECEIVER WAS APPOIN TED IN TERMS THEREOF FOR THE PURPOSE OF SELLING THESE TWO FIRMS AS GOING CONCERN S. FROM THE SUBSEQUENT ORDERS, IT APPEARS THAT THOSE FIRMS COULD NOT BE SOLD AS GOING CONCERNS ON ACCOUNT OF THE LIABILITY OF GOBINDO SHEET METAL TOWARDS THE ALLAHA BAD BANK. 10 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 AFTER HAVING PASSED SEVERAL ORDERS, BY AN ORDER DAT ED APRIL 27, 1989, THE COURT DIRECTED TO DEPOSIT OF RS. 25,00,000 WITH THE REGIS TRAR OF THIS COURT TO BE KEPT IN FIXED DEPOSIT WITH THE ALLAHABAD BANK FREE FROM LIEN AND ALL ATTACHMENTS UNTIL FURTHER ORDERS OF THIS COURT. THIS WAS DONE IN ORDER TO EFF ECTUATE THE TRANSFER OF THE ASSETS OF THESE TWO FIRMS AFTER SECURING PAYMENT OF THE LIABI LITY TOWARDS THE ALLAHABAD BANK IN RESPECT OF ONE OF THE FIRMS. IT APPEARS THAT THERE WAS BUT ONE SALE COMPRISING THE ASSETS OF BOTH THE FIRMS AND THE BID OF ONE GANESH PRASAD AT RS.3,51,00,000 WAS ACCEPTED AS THE HIGHEST BID AND THAT THE PAYMENT TO WARDS THE SAME WAS MADE IN DRIBLETS FROM TIME TO TIME.' 12. AFTER CONSIDERING THE ARGUMENTS OF THE PARTIES HON'BLE CALCUTTA HIGH COURT DELIVERED THEIR VERDICT IN THE FOLLOWING WORDS: 'THE DECISION IN S.R. V. PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS (P. ) LTD. [2000] 241 ITR 626 (KER.), CITED BY MR. SOM IS ALSO DISTINGUISHABLE AND WOULD HAVE NO MANNER OF APPLICATION IN THE PRESENT CASE IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THE AMOUNT WA S SENT IN THAT CASE AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE CONSIDERATION BY THE LIQUIDATOR TO DISCHARGE THE LI ABILITY OF THE ASSESSEE IN RESPECT OF FINANCE RECEIVED FROM THE KARALA FINANCE CORPORATION ON THE SECURITY OF THE PROPERTY WHICH WAS CREATED AFTER ACQUISITION IN THE COURSE OF A WINDIN G UP PROCEEDING. THERE WAS NOTHING FROM WHICH IT WOULD BE HELD THAT SUCH PAYMENT WAS ABSOLU TELY NECESSARY. ON THE OTHER HAND, LEARNED COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE IN THAT CASE HAD C ONCEDED THAT SECTION 48 OF THE ACT HAD NO APPLICATION TO THE FACTS OF THE SAID CASE. HOWEVER, THE ALTERNATIVE ARGUMENT OF THE ASSESSEE WAS THAT THE CORPORATION HAD OVERRIDING TITLE OVER THE PROPERTY. THE AMOUNT PAID WAS CLEARLY RELATABLE TO TITLE. THUS, IT APPEARS THAT THERE WAS NO CLAIM THAT THE PAYMENT OF THAT AMOUNT WAS AN EXPENDITURE INCURRED WHOLLY AND EXCLUSIVELY IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSFER HERE IS ANOTHER DISTINGUISHING FEATURE SO FAR AS THE PRESEN T CASE IS CONCERNED. HERE THE ENTIRE ASSETS OF THE BUSINESS FIRMS AS A GOING CONCERN WERE SOUGH T TO BE SOLDBUT COULD NOT BE SOLD WITHOUT REMOVING THE LIABILITY TOWARDS THE ALLAHABAD BANK. THE ASSETS INCLUDED THE WHOLE BUSINESS OF THE TWO FIRMS AND IF THE LIABILITY WAS NOT MET B EFORE THE SALE, IN THAT EVENT, IN THIS PRESENT CASE THE SALE CONSIDERATION WOULD HAVE BEEN REDUCED BY THE LIABILITY PAYABLE TO THE 11 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 ALLAHABAD BANK. THEREFORE, THE DECISION CITED DOES NOT HELP US IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE TO TAKE A DIFFERENT VIEW. THE DECISION IN R.M. ARUNACHALAM [1997] 227 ITR 2 22 (SC) DEALT WITH THE QUESTION OF COST OF ACQUISITION, WHICH IS NOT A CASE HERE. I T WAS NOT RELATED TO THE PERFECTION OF TITLE. THEREFORE, THIS DECISION DOES NOT HELP US IN THE CO NTEXT IN WHICH WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DECIDE THE PRESENT CASE. CONCLUSION: THE CRITERIA IS THE PERFECTION OF TITLE IN ORDER TO EFFECT THE SALE. IN THIS PRESENT CASE, WITHOUT REMOVING THE LIABILITY OF THE ALLAHABAD BANK, THE T ITLE OF THE PURCHASER COULD NOT BE PERFECTED. HAVING REGARD TO THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTA NCES OF THIS CASE AND THE POSITION IN LAW AS DISCUSSED ABOVE, THE MEETING OF THE LIABILITY OF THE ALLAHABAD BANK RELATING TO THE ASSETS OF GOBINDO SHEET METAL WAS AN EXPENDITURE INCURRED WHOLLY AND EXCLUSIVELY IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSFER.' 13. THEN THE LD.AR SUBMITTED THAT THERE WAS DIVERS ION OF AMOUNT AT SOURCE BY OVERRIDING TITLE AND THEREFORE, NO LTCG SHOULD BE COMPUTED IN THE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE AND THEREFORE IT SHOULD BE DELETED. 14. PER CONTRA, THE LD. DR VEHEMENTLY SUPPORTED TH E ORDER OF THE LOWER AUTHORITIES AND CITED THE ORDER OF THE HONBLE BOMBAY HIGH COURT IN CIT VS. ROSHANBABU MOHAMMAD HUSSEIN MERCHANT 275 ITR 231 AND TRIBUNAL (DELHI) O RDER IN THE CASE OF ACIT VS. GLAD INVESTMENT PVT. LTD. 8 SOT 612. 14. RIVAL SUBMISSION HEARD. WE FIND THAT DURING TH E RE-ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, THE ASSESSEE SUBMITTED BEFORE THE A.O THAT THE LAND AT BERABERI BELONGING TO THE ASSESSEE, WHICH WAS HYPOTHECATED BY M/S PRAGATI PRINTERS PVTLTD (PP PL) TO SBI AS A COLLATERAL SECURITY AGAINST LOANS TAKEN BY THE SAID PPPL, WAS SOLD. THE ASSESSEE BEING A SHAREHOLDER AND A DIRECTOR HANDED OVER THE TITLE DEEDS OF THE LAND TO THE SAID COMPANY M/S PPPL AND ALLOWED 12 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 IT TO MORTGAGE THE LAND TO THE SBI. WHEN M/S PPPL W AS UNABLE TO REPAY THE DUES BEING LOAN AND INTEREST ACCRUED THEREON, THE LAND WAS SOLD BY THE BANK. THE LD AR SUBMITTED THAT THE SALE PROCEEDS WERE COLLECTED BY THE BANK DIRECTLY F ROM THE BUYER AND APPROPRIATED TOWARDS THE DUES FROM M/S PPPL, THUS, THE SALE PROCEEDS NEV ER REACHED THE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE RESULTING INTO THE REAL INCOME BEING DIVERTED AT SO URCE. 15. WE NOTE THAT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS SUNIL J. KIN ARIWALA, 259 ITR 10 ( SC), IT WAS HELD THAT WHEN A THIRD PERSON BECOMES ENTITLED TO RECEIV E THE AMOUNT UNDER AN OBLIGATION OF THE ASSESSEE, EVEN BEFORE THE ASSESSEE COULD LAY A CLAI M TO RECEIVE IT AS HIS INCOME, THERE WOULD BE A DIVERSION OF INCOME BY WAY OF OVERRIDING TITLE . HOWEVER, WHEN THE SAME IS PASSED ON TO A THIRD PERSON IN DISCHARGE OF THE OBLIGATION OF THE ASSESSEE AFTER THE RECEIPT OF SUCH AMOUNT, IT IS APPLICATION OF INCOME. 16. WE ALSO NOTE THAT THE HONBLE APEX COURT IN C IT VSSITALDAS TIRATHDAS, 41 ITR 367 HELD THAT WHEN THE MONEY IS DIVERTED AFTER SUCH AMO UNT BECOMES THE INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE, THE SAME IS CONSIDERED TO BE APPLICATION OFINCOME O F THE ASSESSEE. THIS IS A CASE WHERE A PORTION OF THE INCOME HAS BEEN APPLIED TO DISCHARGE AN OBLIGATION AND NOT A CASE WHERE SUCH OBLIGATION HAS BEEN DISCHARGED BY WAY OF OVERRIDING CHARGE. WHERE THE OVERRIDING CHARGE EXISTED EITHER UPON THE PROPERTY OR UPON ITS INCOME , IT BECOMESDIVERSION OF INCOME DUE TO OVERRIDING CHARGE AND THE SAME IS NOT TAXABLE IN TH E HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE. 17. WE ALSO NOTE FROM THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF CIT VS GLAD INVESTMENTS (P) LTD. (2006) 8 SOT 0612 BEFORE THE DELHI BENCH OF TRIBUUNALWERE TH AT THE ASSESSEE HAD VOLUNTARILY PLEDGED THE SHARES AND GAVE DELIVERY OF POSSESSION TO CERTAIN CREDIT INSTITUTIONS AS COLLATERAL SECURITY FOR LOAN TAKEN BY 'P' & 'S'. THE SALE PROC EEDS WAS ENTIRELY APPLIED TOWARDS REPAYMENT OF LOAN AND NO AMOUNT WAS RECEIVED BY THE ASSESSEE. IT WAS HELD THAT NO TAXABILITY IN THE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE SHALL ARISE AS NO VALUE OF CONSIDERATION WAS EITHER RECEIVED ORACCRUED AS A RESULT OF TRANSFER OF THE S HARES. MOREOVER, EVEN IF NOTIONALLY ANY CONSIDERATION ON SALE OF TRANSFER ACCRUED TO THE AS SESSEE, THERE WAS DIVERSION OF THE ENTIRE CONSIDERATION AT SOURCE BEFORE ITBECAME INCOME IN T HE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE. WE FURTHER NOTE THAT IN GLAD INVESTMENT, TRIBUNAL H AS DISTINGUISHED THE CASE BEFORE THE HON'BLEBOMBAY HIGH COURT IN ROSHANBABU IN FOLLOWING WORDS: ' IN THE CASE OF ROSHANBABU MOHAMMED HUSSEIN MERCHANT (SUPRA) THE ASSESSEE HAD SOUGHT PERMISSION FROM THE BANK 13 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 AND VOLUNTARILY DEPOSITED PART OF THE SALE PROCEED S OF THE PLOT OF LAND TOWARDS DISCHARGE OF THE DEBT SO AS TO HAVE CLEAR TITLE OVER THE REMAIN ING PLOT OF LAND; WHEREAS IN THE CASE OF SMT. THRESSIAMMA ABRAHAM (SUPRA) AS WELL AS IN THE CASE BEFORE US THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY HAD BEEN SOLD BY THE CREDIT INSTITUTIONS. ' FURTHER, IT HAS BEEN HELD BY THE TRIBUNAL- 'AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WE ARE OF THE VIEW THA T WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE JUDGMENT OF HON 'BLE CALCUTTA HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF GOPEENATH PAUL & SONS (SUPRA) AND OF HON 'BLE KERALA HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF SMT. THRESSIAMMA ABRAHAM (SUPRA) IN PREFERENCE TO THE JUDGMENT OF HON 'BLE BOMBAY HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF ROSHANBABU MOHAMMED HUSEEIN MERCHANT (SUPRA) FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: ' 18. WE FURTHER NOTE THAT THE CASE LAWS RELIED UPON BY THE AUTHORITIES BELOW AND THE LD. DR ARE DISTINGUISHABLE ON FACTS. IN V.S.M.R. JAGADI SHCHANDRANVS CIT, 227 ITR 240 (SC), IT WAS HELD THAT WHERE THE MORTGAGE IS CREATED BY THE ASSESSEE HIMSELF, BENEFIT OF COST OF ACQUISITION WON'T APPLY. HERE THE MORTGAGE WAS CREA TED FOR THE ASSESSEE'S OWN BENEFIT AND THE ISSUE OF DIVERSION OF INCOME BY OVERRIDING TITL E WAS NEITHER RAISED NOR CONSIDERED. 19. WE ALSO NOTE THAT IN THE CASE OF R.M. ARUNACH ALAMVS CIT 227 ITR 222 (SC) DEALS WITH THE CASE OF DEDUCTIBILITY OF ESTATE DUTY AS CO ST OF ACQUISITION OR COST OF IMPROVEMENT. AND IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. ATTILI N RAO, 252 ITR 88 0 (SC), THE HEN 'BLE SUPREME COURT HELD THAT SINCE THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY BELONGED TO THE A SSESSEE, THE CAPITAL GAINS IS TO BE CHARGED ON THE ENTIRE AMOUNT. THIS CASE IS DIFFEREN T FROM THE CASE AT HAND AS IN THAT CASE THE MORTGAGE HAD BEEN CREATED TO DISCHARGE THE LIABILIT Y OF THE ASSESSEE HIMSELF WHEREAS IN THE CASE AT HAND, THE ASSESSEE HAS MORTGAGED HIS PROPER TY TO DISCHARGE THE LIABILITY OF THE THIRD PARTY. 20. WE ALSO NOTE THAT ALL THE ABOVE THREE DECISION S WERE CONSIDERED BY THE TRIBUNAL IN GLAD INVESTMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING WORDS: 'BOTH IN THE CASES OF R.M ARUNACHALAM (SUPRA) AND VS.MR. JAGDISHCHANDRAN (SUPRA), THE HON 'BLE S UPREME COURT WERE NOT CONSIDERING A SITUATION PERTAINING TO LOSS OF CAPITAL ASSET ON A CCOUNT OF GUARANTEE FOR A THIRD PARTY LOAN. IN THE CASE OF R.M ARUNACHALAM (SUPRA) THE QUESTION WAS WHETHER ESTATE DUTY PAID CAN BE TREATED AS A PART OF COST OF ACQUISITION OF ASSET TO THE INHERITOR. IN THE CASE OF VSMR.JAGDISHCHANDRAN (SUPRA) AND ATTILI N. RAO (SUP RA) ENCUMBRANCE WAS CREATED BY THE OWNER OF THE CAPITAL ASSET FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT AND THOSE ASSESSEES HAD ALREADY RECEIVED 14 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 VALUE CORRESPONDING TO MORTGAGE LIABILITY. THUS, IN NONE OF THE CASES THERE WAS ANY LOSS OR EROSION IN THE VALUE OF CAPITAL ASSET WITHOUT ANY B ENEFIT WHATSOEVER TO THE OWNER. 21. ACCORDING TO THE LD. COUNSEL OF THE ASSESSEE THE DECISION OF THE HONBLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA IN CIT VS. SMT. THRESSIAMMA ABRAHAM , 227 ITR 802 (KER) IS SQUARELY APPLICABLE TO THE FACTS OF THE ASSESEES CASE. IN THIS CASE, WE NOTE THAT THE ASSESSEE STOOD AS A GUARANTOR (PROPERTY IN QUESTION WAS MORTGAGED UND ER A DEED) FOR THE LOAN GIVEN BY K FINANCIAL CORPORATION TO N LTD. ON DEFAULT BY N LTD., K FINANCIAL CORPORATION SOLD THE PROPERTY MORTGAGED AND ITS SALE PROCEEDS WERE A PPROPRIATED TOWARDS THE LOAN AMOUNT. THE ENTIRE SALE CONSIDERATION WAS PAID DIRECTLY TO K FINANCIAL CORPORATION BY THE PURCHASERS AND ONLY AFTER THAT THE SAID PROPERTY WA S RELEASED. IT WAS HELD THAT NO TAXABILITY IN THE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE SHALL ARISE AS NO VALUE O F CONSIDERATION WAS RECEIVED BY THE ASSESSEE. 22. IN THE LIGHT OF THE AFORESAID DISCUSSION IN THE INSTANT CASE, WE NEED TO ASCERTAIN THE FACTS AS TO FIRSTLY WHETHER THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN MADE DIR ECTLY BY THE SBI AND THE SALE CONSIDERATION WAS APPROPRIATED TO THE LOAN AM OUNT; OR SECONDLY WHETHER THE ASSESSEE HAS GOT THE PROPERTY SOLD AND THE BUYER HAS DEPOSI TED IT DIRECTLY TO THE SBI AND THEREAFTER THE SBI APPROPRIATED IT TO THE LOAN AMOUNT. ON ASCE RTAINMENT OF FACTS, IT IS REVEALED THAT THE ASSESSEES CASE FALLS IN THE SECOND CATEGORY, THEN IT IS APPLICATION OF MONEY OF THE ASSESSEE FOR REPAYMENT OF LOAN AND THEN THE QUESTION OF DIVE RSION OF FUND AT THE SOURCE BY OVERRIDING TITLE WILL NOT APPLY. HOWEVER, IF THE FACTS OF CASE FALLS IN THE FIRST CATEGORY THEN IT WOULD BE CASE OF DIVERSION OF FUND AT THE SOURCE BY OVER-RID ING TITLE AND THE DECISION OF CIT VS. SMT. THRESSIAMMA ABRAHAM (SUPRA) WOULD BE APPLICABLE. BE THAT AS IT MAY BE. IT IS OBSERVED THAT A VIDE LETTER DATED 26.05.2007, SBI HAS WRITTEN TO THE BUYER OF THE PROPERTY M/S. SVARNA INFRASTRUCTURE & BUILDERS PVT. LTD (SUPRA) TO DEPO SIT THE FULL VALUE OF THE CONSIDERATION WITH SBI, SSI BRANCH, BHOWANIPORE BEFORE SIGNING THE CON VEYANCE DEED. HOWEVER, THE FACTS ARE NOT CLEAR. IT IS NOT CLEAR FROM THE DOCUMENT AS TO WHETHER THE SBI CONDUCTED THE SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION AND THEN CONSIDERATION MONEY WAS DEP OSITED BY THE BUYER DIRECTLY WITH THE BANK; OR THE SALE OF PROPERTY WAS CARRIED OUT BY T HE ASSESSEE AND THE SALE CONSIDERATION WAS DEPOSITED BY THE BUYER IN ASSESSEE'S ACCOUNT AS PE R THE SBIS INSTRUCTION OR IN THE ACCOUNT OF M/S. PPPL. FROM THE DISCUSSION SUPRA, IT IS NEEDLES S TO SAY THAT IF THE ASSESSEE HAS GOT THE 15 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 SALE OF PROPERTY AND CONSEQUENTLY, IF THE MONEY WAS ROUTED THROUGH THE BANK ACCOUNT OF THE ASSESSEE BEFORE BEING FINALLY APPROPRIATED TOWARDS THE DUES OF M/S. PPPL, THERE CANNOT BE DIVERSION OF INCOME BY OVERRIDING TITLE AND IN THAT FACT SITUATION, CAPITAL GAINS TAX LIABILITY WOULD ARISE IN ASSESSEE'S HANDS. 23. IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE, WE, THEREFORE, REMA ND THIS ISSUE BACK TO THE FILE OF THE A.O. FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE TO VERIFY THE CORRECT FACTS ON THE LINES STATED BY US IN THE PRECEDING PARA 22. IN CASE AFTER DUE ENQUIRY, HE FINDS THAT THE AS SESSEES CASE FALLS IN THE FIRST CATEGORY AS DISCUSSED IN PARA 22 SUPRA, HE SHALL DELETE THE AD DITION. THE A.O. SHALL ALSO AFFORD REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY OF HEARING TO THE ASSESSEE T O EXPLAIN/ SUBSTANTIATE THE CORRECT FACTS AND PASS A SPEAKING ORDER. 24. GROUND NO. 2 IS AS UNDER: 2. FOR THAT ON THE FACTS AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE THE LD. CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN SUSTAINING THE COMPUTATION OF LONG TER M CAPITAL GAIN CONSIDERING THE COST OF ACQUISITION AT RS.1,122/- I NSTEAD OF RS.8,30,000/- AND THAT THE LONG TERM CAPITAL GAIN WAS COMPUTED CONSID ERING THE DATE OF ACQUISITION TO BE 25.04.2000 INSTEAD OF 15.04.1976 AND HENCE, THE COMPUTATION IS WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION, ARBITRARY AND LIABLE TO RECOMPUTATION. 25. ASSAILING THE ORDER OF THE LD. CIT(A), THE LD. AR SUBMITTED THAT THE LAND AT VIP ROAD WAS ACQUIRED BY THE ASSESSEE BY WAY OF DEED OF SALE DATED 15.04.1976, WHICH WAS EVENBEFORE 01.04.1981 AT A COST OF RS.1122/- AND DR EW OUR ATTENTION TO THE COPY OF DEED OF CONVEYANCE FOR SALE OF LAND TO M/S. MAPLE VINCOM(P) LTD. WHICHIS FOUND ANNEXED IN PG. NO. 85-105 OF PAPER BOOK. IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR NO TICE THAT SMT. BAKUL RANI BOSE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY BY INDENTURE OF SALE ON 18.11.1949 FRO M ONE SMT. CHITRALEKHACHOUDHRANI (REFER PAGE 89 OF PAPER BOOK). THEREAFTER, THE PRO PERTY WAS SOLD BY SMT. BAKUL RANI BOSE TO THE ASSESSEE ON 15.04.1976, WHICH FACT IS SEEN F ROM PERUSAL OF PAGE 90 OF PAPER BOOK. THE DEED OF CONVEYANCE MENTIONS THE FACT THAT THE L AND WAS PURCHASED BY THE ASSESSEE VIDE INDENTURE OF SALE 15TH DAY OF APRIL, 1976 MADE BETW EEN BAKUL RANI BOSE AND THE ASSESSEEAND WAS REGISTERED WITH THE ADDITIONAL DIST RICT SUB REGISTRATION OFFICE, COSSIPORE DUM DUM AND RECORDED IN BOOK NO. 1, VOLUME NO. 48, PAGES 78 TO 85. ACCORDING TO THE LD. AR, THIS DEED OF CONVEYANCE WAS FURNISHED IN TH E OFFICE OF THE AO DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS. SO, ACCORDING TO LD. AR, SI NCE THE LAND WAS ACQUIRED BEFORE 16 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 01.04.1981, AS PER THE PROVISIONS OF THE SECTION 55 (2) CLAUSE (B), THE COST OF ACQUISITION OF THE LAND TO THE ASSESSEE OR THE FAIR MARKET VALUE O F THE LAND AS ON 01.04.1981, AT THE OPTION OF THE ASSESSEE, COULD BE TAKEN TO BE THE COST OF A CQUISITION OF THE LAND. ACCORDING TO LD. AR, THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE LAND WAS DETERMINE D BY THE CERTIFIED VALUERRS.8,30,000/- , WHICH WAS TAKEN TO BE THE COST OF ACQUISITION BY TH E ASSESSEE IN HIS REVISED COMPUTATION OF INCOME. IT WAS SUBMITTED THATTHE VALUATION REPORT R ECEIVED FROM SUCH VALUER WAS FURNISHED BEFORE THE AO AND IS ATTACHED HEREWITH IN PG. NOS. 136-144 OF PAPER BOOK. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO LD. AR, THE AO HAS TAKEN THE COST OF A CQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY AT VIP ROAD AS RS.1122, WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE PROVISIONS OF C LAUSE (B) OF SECTION 55(2) OF THE INCOME TAX ACT AND HAS INDEXED IT BY TAKING THE INDEXATION BASE AT 406. SUCH COST INFLATION INDEX PURPORTED TO THE F.Y. 2000-01. AND IT WAS POINTED O UT BY THE LD. AR THAT THE AOS CONTENTION THAT - 'THE ASSESSEE HAS HIMSELF SHOWN AN AMOUNT OF RS.1,122/- AS PURCHASE PRICE OF THE LANDED PROPERTY IN HIS BALANCE SHEET FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR, IT WOULD BE REASONABLE TO TAKE SUCH PRICE AS THE ACTUAL PRICE OF PURCHASE FOR THAT LANDED PROPERTY ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE OF 25.04.2000.' IS BAD ON FACTS AND LAW. 26. THUS, IT WAS CONTENDED BY THE LD. AR THAT THE A O WENT WRONG ON FACTS ITSELF, SINCE THE PROPERTY WAS NOT PURCHASED ON 25.04.2000, AS CO NTENDED BY THE AO BUT WAS PURCHASED ON 15.04.1976, WHICH FACT IS EVIDENT FROM PARA 3 OF PG. 6 (PAGE 90 PAPER BOOK) OF THE DEED OF CONVEYANCE EXECUTED BETWEEN THE ASSESSEE AND THE PURCHASER.THUS, ACCORDING TO LD. AR, AS PER THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, WHERE A PROPERTY IS PURCHASED BEFORE 01.04.1981, THE COST OF ACQUISITION OF SUCH PROPERT Y COULD BE TAKEN AS THE FMV OF THE PROPERTY AT 01.04.1981, AND THE COST INFLATION INDE X FOR THE F. Y. 1981-82 WOULD BE 100. THE ASSESSEE HAD SUBMITTED THE VALUATION CERTIFICATE WH EREIN THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE LAND AS ON 01.04.1981 WAS DETERMINED BY THE CERTIFIED VA LUER AT RS.8,30,000/- , WHICH WAS TAKEN TO BE THE COST OF ACQUISITION BY THE ASSESSEE IN HI S REVISED COMPUTATION OF INCOME IN CONSONANCE WITH THE PROVISION OF SECTION 55(2) OF T HE INCOME TAX ACT.THUS, THE COMPUTATION OF INDEXED COST OF ACQUISITION BY THE AO, TAKING THE COST OF ACQUISITION AT THE COST PRICE OF 15.04.1976 WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE PR OVISIONS OF SECTION 55(2) CLAUSE (B) AND TAKING THE BASE COST INFLATION INDEX AT 406 IS BAD IN LAW AND FACTS AND, THEREFORE, PRAYED THAT RS. 8 LAKHS MUST BE TAKEN AS THE COST OF ACQUISITIO N INSTEAD OF RS.1,122 AS DONE BY AO. PER- 17 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 CONTRA THE LD.DR RELIED ON THE ORDERS OF THE CIT(A) /AO AND DOES NOT WANT US TO INTERFERE IN THE ORDER OF AO. 27. HEARD BOTH THE PARTIES. WE NOTE THAT THE IMMOVA BLE PROPERTY WHICH IS IN ISSUE WAS INITIALLY OWNED BY SMT. BAKUL RANI BOSE. AND WE NOT E THAT SMT. BAKUL RANI BOSE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY BY INDENTURE OF SALE ON 18.11.1949 FRO M ONE SMT. CHITRALEKHACHOUDHRANI (REFER PAGE 89 OF PAPER BOOK). THEREAFTER, THE PRO PERTY WAS SOLD BY SMT. BAKUL RANI BOSE TO THE ASSESSEE ON 15.04.1976, WHICH FACT IS SEEN F ROM PERUSAL OF PAGE 90 OF PAPER BOOK. THE DEED OF CONVEYANCE MENTIONS THE FACT THAT THE L AND WAS PURCHASED BY THE ASSESSEE VIDE INDENTURE OF SALE 15TH DAY OF APRIL, 1976 MADE BETW EEN BAKUL RANI BOSE AND THE ASSESSEE AND WAS REGISTERED WITH THE ADDITIONAL DISTRICT SUB REGISTRATION OFFICE, COSSIPORE DUM DUM AND RECORDED IN BOOK NO. 1, VOLUME NO. 48, PAGE S 78 TO 85, AND THE AO ERRED IN MAKING A FACTUAL FINDING THAT THE PROPERTY WAS PURC HASED ON 25.04.2000. AND SINCE THE LAND WAS ACQUIRED BEFORE 01.04.1981, AS PER THE PROVISIO NS OF THE SECTION 55(2) CLAUSE (B), THE COST OF ACQUISITION OF THE LAND TO THE ASSESSEE OR THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE LAND AS ON 01.04.1981, AT THE OPTION OF THE ASSESSEE, COULD BE TAKEN TO BE THE COST OF ACQUISITION OF THE LAND. WE NOTE THAT THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE LAN D WAS DETERMINED BY THE CERTIFIED VALUER RS.8,30,000/- , WHICH WAS TAKEN TO BE THE COST OF A CQUISITION BY THE ASSESSEE IN HIS REVISED COMPUTATION OF INCOME. IT IS NOTED THAT THE VALUATI ON REPORT RECEIVED FROM SUCH VALUER WAS FURNISHED BEFORE THE AO AND IS ATTACHED HEREWITH IN PG. NOS. 136-144 OF PAPER BOOK. THUS, WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THE COMPUTATION OF INDEX ED COST OF ACQUISITION BY THE AO, TAKING THE COST OF ACQUISITION AT THE COST PRICE OF 15.04. 1976 WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 55(2) CLAUSE (B) AND TAKING THE BASE COST I NFLATION INDEX AT 406 IS BAD IN LAW AND WE DIRECT THAT RS. 8,30,000/- MUST BE TAKEN AS THE COS T OF ACQUISITION INSTEAD OF RS.1,122/-.. SO WE ORDER ACCORDINGLY. 18 ITA NO. 158/KOL/2016 DEVENDRA KUMAR SHROFF.AY- 2008-09 28. IN THE RESULT, THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE IS PA RTLY ALLOWED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES ORDER IS PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON 26TH FEBR UARY, 2020. SD/- SD/- (J. SUDHAKAR REDDY) (ABY. T. VARKEY) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER DATED : 26 TH FEBRUARY, 2020 JD.(SR.P.S.) COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO: 1. APPELLANT ASSESSEE/APPLICANT SRI DEVENDRA KUM AR SHROFF, P-16, SAHITYA PARISHAD STREET, KOLKATA-700 006. 2 RESPONDENT ITO, WARD-7(2), KOLKATA 3. 4. 5. CIT(A)-11,KOLKATA. (SENT THROUGH E-MAIL) CIT, KOLKATA. DR, ITAT, KOLKATA. (SENT THROUGH E-MAIL) /TRUE COPY, BY ORDER, ASSISTANT REGISTRAR