Atul Modi, New Delhi V. ACIT, Circle- 29(1), New Delhi

ITA 1605/DEL/2018

AI Insights

The case involves Shri Atul Modi, who appealed against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) confirming an addition of Rs. 56 lakh to his income for the assessment year 2014-15. The addition was made by the Assessing Officer under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, due to unexplained cash credits in the assessee's bank account. The assessee claimed that the cash deposits were advances received from Shri Sukhbir Singh and Shri Devender Singh for the sale of property, which were later refunded due to cancellation of the deal. However, the assessee failed to produce the lenders or provide credible evidence to support his claims during the assessment and appellate proceedings. The Tribunal, after considering the submissions and the materials on record, dismissed the appeal, agreeing with the lower authorities that the onus of proof was not discharged by the assessee.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 121479 (ITAT-DELHI)
• Duration Of Justice: 4 year(s) 9 month(s) 28 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 03-01-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: A
• Next Hearing Date: 03-01-2023
• Assessment Year: 2014-2015
• Appeal Filed On: 06-03-2018
• Other Referred Cases: CIT vs P. Mohanahalala, CIT vs Sreekha Banerjee, Kale Khan Mohammad Hanif vs CIT, Nanak Chandra Laxman Das vs CIT, M.A. Unneerikutty vs CIT, CIT vs Precision Pvt. Ltd., CIT vs United Commercial and Industrial Co. Pvt. Ltd., CIT vs Kulwant Kaur, CIT vs Sahibganj Electric Cables Pvt. Ltd., CIT vs Bharat Pvt. Ltd., CIT vs WJ Walker & Co., CIT vs United Commercial & Industrial Co. Pvt. Ltd., CIT vs Shankar Industries, CIT vs Prakash Textile Agency, CIT vs CIT (1963) 49 ITR 112, 117, CIT vs Sumati Dayal reported as 214 ITR 801
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Revenue
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Section: 68

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL DELHI BENCH “A” DELHI BEFORE SHRI PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER & SHRI ANUBHAV SHARMA, JUDICIAL MEMBER I.T.A No.1605/DEL/2018 Assessment Year 2014-15 Shri Atul Modi, 22, Lower Ground Floor, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi. v. ACIT, Circle-29(1), New Delhi. TAN/PAN: AMDPM1864F (Appellant) (Respondent) Appellant by: None Respondent by: Shri Kanv Bali, Sr.DR Date of hearing: 04 01 2023 Date of pronouncement: 04 01 2023 O R D E R PER PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA, A.M.: Th e cap tio n ed ap peal h as b een fil ed b y th e Assessee ag ain st th e o rd er o f th e Co mmiss io n er o f Inco me Tax (Ap p eals)-X, New Delh i [‘CIT(A)’ in sh o rt] d a ted 2 8 .0 8 .2 01 7 arisin g fro m th e assess men t o rd er d ated 1 9 .1 2 .20 16 p assed by th e Assessin g Officer (AO) u n d er Sect io n 1 4 3(3 ) of th e In co me Tax Act, 1 9 6 1 (th e Act) co n cern in g AY 20 1 4-1 5 . 2. As per the grounds of appeal, the assessee has challenged the addition of Rs.56 lakh on account of unexplained cash credit under Section 68 of the Act. 3. Briefl y stated, t he assessee is an individual and has derived income fr o m diverse sources. The return filed by the I.T.A No.1605/Del/2018 2 assessee at Rs.19,83,815/- was subjected to scrutiny assessment. In the course of scrutiny assessment, the Assessing Officer observed that assessee has made cash deposits of Rs.40 lakh on 31.08.2013 and Rs.16 lakh on 07.06.2013 respectively in a savings bank account maintained with Oriental Bank of Co mmerc e. It wa s clai med b y the assessee that the aforesaid cash was received fro m one Shri Sukhbir Singh and Shri Devender Singh towards advance against sale of property. The assessee however failed to produce the purported lenders for exa mination. It was also observed that the assessee has neither provided the identity of the persons lending cash advance nor the creditworthiness and genuineness of transactions were proved. The Asse ssing Officer finally observed that onus of proof under Section 68 lay upon the assessee which does not been discharged at all. Consequently, an addition of Rs.56 lakh was made to the r eturned income . 4. Before the CIT(A) , the assessee contended that the amount was received b y the assessee as advance against his property which were also refunded in cash during the year due to cancellation of the proposed deal. The copy of receipt of cash and cancellation receipt were provided to the CIT(A) and also reproduced in the appellate order. The assessee contended before the CIT( A) that the Assessing Officer has mad e addition under Section 68 mer el y on the ground that these parties were not produced before the Assessing Officer. However, the Assessing Officer has not considered the documents furnished so as to explain nature of transactions. The CIT( A) took note of the submissions made on behalf of the assessee as reproduced in I.T.A No.1605/Del/2018 3 paragraph 3.1 of the first appellate order. The CI T(A) however did not find any merit in the contentions. The CIT(A) on analysis of factual matrix did not embrace the plea of assessee. The CIT( A) noted that copy of the purported receipt and cancellation thereof are not authentic and verifiable and are mer el y self-serving document. The CIT( A) essentially noted that the onus lay upon the assessee to prove the impu gned cash transactions by c ogent and proper evidence and the facts are exclusively within the knowledge of the assessee. The CIT( A) concluded that assessee has failed to discharge the onus under Section 68 of the Act towards identity, creditworthiness as well as the genuineness of the transaction. The CIT(A) thus confir med the action of the Assessing Officer. The relevant operative paragraph of the order of the CIT(A) is reproduced hereunder: “ 3 . 1 I h a v e c a r e f u l l y c o n s i d e r e d t h e w r i t t e n s u b m i ss i o n s o f L d . A R a n d t h e a s s e s s m e n t o r d e r p a s s e d b y t h e A s s e s s i n g O ff i c e r . T h e i s s u e u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n i s a d d i t i o n o f R s . 5 6 , 0 0 , 0 0 0 / - ma d e b y t h e A O a s p e r t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f s e c t i o n s 6 8 o f t h e A c t . D u r i ng t h e c o u r s e o f a s s e s s m e n t p r o c e e d i n g s , A O v i d e s h o w c a u s e d a t e d 0 5. 1 2 . 2 0 1 6 r e q u i r e d t h e a s s e s s e e t o e x p l a i n a s t o w h y t h e c a s h d e p o s i t o f R s . 4 0 , 0 0 , 0 0 0 / - o n 3 1 . 0 8 . 2 0 1 3 a n d R s . 1 6 , 0 0 , 0 0 0 / - o n 0 7 . 0 6 . 2 0 1 3 i n t h e s a v i n g s b a n k a c c o u n t n u m b e r 0 5 6 2 2 0 1 1 0 0 4 9 2 8 w i t h O r i e n t a l B a n k o f C o m m e r c e b e n o t t r e a t e d a s u n e x p l a i n e d c r e di t . C o n s i d e r i n g t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f s e c t i o n 6 8 o f t h e A c t, i t w a s h e l d b y t h e A O t h a t a s s e s s e e f a i l e d t o p r o v e i d e n t i t y o f t he c r e d i t o r s , t h e i r c a p a c i t y a n d t h e g e n u i n e n e s s o f t h e t r a n s a c t i o n s . As p e r s h o w c a u s e i s s u e d , m e n t i o n e d a b o v e , A O d e s i r e d t h e a s s e s s e e t o p r o d u c e S h . S u k h b i r S i n g h a n d S h . D e v e n d e r S i n g h w h o c l a i m e d t o h a v e a d v a n c e d R s . 1 6 , 0 0 , 0 0 0 / - a n d R s . 4 0 , 0 0 , 0 0 0 / - r e s p e c ti v e l y b u t d e s p i t e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y p r o v i d e d t o p r o d u c e t h e m , as s e s s e e f a i l e d t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e d i r e c t i o n s o f t h e A s s e s s i n g O f f i c e r. A c c o r d i n g l y , A O t r e a t e d t h e a m o u n t o f a b o v e c a s h d e p o s i t s u n e x p l a i ne d a n d m a d e t h e a d d i t i o n o f R s . 5 6 , 0 0 , 0 0 0 / - u / s . 6 8 o f t h e A c t . 3 . 1 . 1 A s p e r t h e s u b m i s s i o n s o f L d . A R , a p p e l l a n t re c e i v e d t h e a b o v e a m o u n t o f R s . 5 6 , 0 0 , 0 0 0 / - a s a d v a n c e a g a i n s t hi s p r o p e r t y w h i c h w e r e l a t e r r e f u n d e d b a c k t o t h e p e r s o n s w h o ad v a n c e d t h e I.T.A No.1605/Del/2018 4 s a m e s i n c e t h e d e a l o f p u r c h a s e / s a l e o f p r o p e r t y c ou l d n o t m a t e r i a l i z e . T o s u b s t a n t i a t e h i s c l a i m , L d , A R h a s p r o v i d e d c o p i e s o f r e c e i p t / a g r e e m e n t e n t e r e d i n t o w i t h S / S h . S u k h b ir S i n g h , S / o S h . R a m b i r C h a u d h a r y , R / o V i l l a g e - S h a k a r p u r i , T e h s i l - F i r o z p u r J h i r k a , D i s t r i c t - M e w a t ( N u h ) , H a r y a n a a n d D e v e n d er S i n g h , S / o l a t e S a t e n d e r S i n g h , R / o V i l l a g e - S o h n a , T e h s i l - S o h n a , D i s t r i c t - G u r g a o n , H a r y a n a . O n t h e b a s i s o f a b o v e d o c u m e n t s , i t i s b e i n g c l a i m e d t h a t t h e a m o u n t s o f a d v a n c e r e c e i v e d i n c a sh w e r e d u l y a c c o u n t e d f o r i n t h e r e g u l a r b o o k s o f a c c o u n t a n d th e s a m e w e r e d e p o s i t e d i n t h e b a n k a c c o u n t , a s m e n t i o n e d a b o v e . S i n c e t h e t r a n s a c t i o n i n q u e s t i o n c o u l d n o t m a t e r i a l i z e , t h e a m o u n t r e c e i v e d a s a d v a n c e / e a r n e s t m o n e y t o w a r d s s a l e o f a g r i c u l t u re l a n d w a s r e f u n d e d b a c k f o r w h i c h c o p y o f c a n c e l l a t i o n r e c e i pt / a g r e e m e n t h a s a l s o b e e n n e c e s s a r y e v i d e n c e s o f r e c e i p t o f a d v a n c es a n d t h e i r r e f u n d s w e r e w e l l b e f o r e t h e A s s e s s i n g O f f i c e r b u t h e d i d n o t m a k e a n y e f f o r t t o v e r i f y t h e s a m e b y m a k i n g n e c e s s a r y en q u i r i e s f r o m t h e a b o v e n a m e d p e r s o n s a s p e r t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e A ct , t h o u g h t h e o p t i o n w a s a v a i l a b l e w i t h h i m a s p r o v i d e d . 3 . 1 . 2 O n t h e b a s i s o f a b o v e d o c u m e n t s , i t i s b e i n g c l a i m e d b y t h e L d . A R t h a t n e c e s s a r y e v i d e n c e s o f r e c e i p t o f a d v a nc e s a n d t h e i r r e f u n d s w e r e w e l l b e f o r e t h e A s s e s s i n g O f f i c e r b u t h e d i d n o t m a k e a n y e f f o r t t o v e r i f y t h e s a m e b y m a k i n g n e c e s s a r y en q u i r i e s f r o m t h e a b o v e n a m e d p e r s o n s a s p e r t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e A ct , t h o u g h t h e o p t i o n w a s a v a i l a b l e w i t h h i m a s p e r t h e p o w e r s c o nf e r r e d u p o n h i m u / s . 1 3 3 ( 6 ) o f t h e A c t . I t i s f u r t h e r b e e n c l a i m e d th a t o n t h e b a s i s o f d e t a i l s / d o c u m e n t s p r o v i d e d , t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s d i s c ha r g e d h i s o n u s a s f a r a s t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f s e c t i o n 6 8 i s c o n c e r n e d a n d t h e a d d i t i o n m a d e b y t h e A O h a s b e e n t e r m e d a s m a d e o n s u r m i s e s a n d c o n j e c t u r e s . I t i s f u r t h e r b e e n r e q u e s t e d t h a t t h e a d d i t i o n n e e d s t o b e q u a s h e d . 3 . 1 . 3 I h a v e c a r e f u l l y c o n s i d e r e d t h e v a r i o u s f a c t s a n d t h e c o p i e s o f d o c u m e n t s p r o v i d e d b y t h e L d . A R t o s u b s t a n t i a t e h i s c l a i m t o h a v e r e c e i v e d a d v a n c e / e a r n e s t m o n e y f r o m S h . S u k h b ir S i n g h a n d S h . D e v e n d e r S i n g h t o t a l i n g t o a s u m o f R s . 5 6 , 0 0 , 0 00 / - ( R s . 1 6 , 0 0 , 0 0 0 / - + R s . 4 0 , 0 0 , 0 0 0 / - ) . O n p e r u s a l o f c o p i e s o f p u r p o r t e d r e c e i p t / a g r e e m e n t a n d c a n c e l l a t i o n r e c e i p t / a g r e e m e nt , i t i s n o t i c e d t h a t t h e a b o v e d o c u m e n t s a r e n o t f o u n d t o b e a u t h e nt i c a n d v e r i f i a b l e a s t h e s e d o c u m e n t s a r e n o t f o u n d t o b e re g i s t e r e d . T h e y a r e i n t h e n a t u r e o f s e l f - s e r v i n g d o c u m e n t s u s e d b y t h e a p p e l l a n t . T o a d j u d i c a t e f u r t h e r , i t w o u l d b e p e r t i n e n t t o d i sc u s s t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f s e c t i o n 6 8 o f t h e A c t , p r o v i d e d a s u nd e r : " 6 8 . Wh e r e a n y s u m i s f o u n d c r e d i t e d i n t h e b o o k s of a n a s s e s s e e m a i n t a i n e d f o r a n y p r e v i o u s y e a r , a n d t h e a s s e s s e e o f f e r s n o e x p l a n a t i o n a b o u t t h e n a t u r e a n d s o u r c e t h e r e o f o r t h e e x p l a n a t i o n o f f e r e d b y h i m i s n o t , i n t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e A s s e s si n g O f f i c e r , s a t i s f a c t o r y , t h e s u m s o c r e d i t e d m a y b e c h a r g e d t o i n c o m e - t a x a s t h e i n c o m e o f t h e a s s e s s e e o f t h a t p r e v i o u s y e a r . ” I.T.A No.1605/Del/2018 5 3 . 1 . 4 A b a r e r e a d i n g o f S e c t i o n 6 8 o f t h e A c t s u g g es t s t h a t t h e r e h a s t o b e c r e d i t o f a m o u n t s i n t h e b o o k s m a i n t a i n e d b y a n a s s e s s e e , s u c h c r e d i t h a s t o b e a s u m d u r i n g t h e p r e v i o u s y e ar a n d i f t h e a s s e s s e e o f f e r s n o e x p l a n a t i o n a b o u t t h e n a t u r e a n d s o u r c e o f s u c h c r e d i t o r t h e e x p l a n a t i o n o f f e r e d i s n o t s a t i s f a c t or y , t h e n t h e s u m s s o c r e d i t e d c a n b e t r e a t e d a s i n c o m e o f t h e a s s e s s ee f o r t h a t p r e v i o u s y e a r . T h e e x p r e s s i o n “ n o e x p l a n a t i o n i s o ff e r e d ” o r “ t h e e x p l a n a t i o n o f f e r e d i s n o t s a t i s f a c t o r y ” p u t s a n o nu s o n t h e a s s e s s e e t o o f f e r a l u c i d , r e a s o n a b l e a n d a c c e p t a b l e e x p l a n at i o n b e f o r e t h e A O a n d t h e r e u p o n t h e A O s h o u l d f o r m a n o p i n i o n a c ce p t i n g o r r e j e c t i n g t h e e x p l a n a t i o n b a s e d u p o n a p p r e c i a t i o n of f a c t s / m a t e r i a l s a n d o t h e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s . 3 . 1 . 5 I n t h e c a s e o f C I T v s P . M o h a n a h a l a ( 2 0 0 7 ) 2 9 1 I T R 2 7 8 ( S C ) , t h e i n g r e d i e n t s o f S e c t i o n 6 8 h a v e b e e n e x p l a i n e d as u n d e r : ( a ) T h e r e h a s t o b e c r e d i t o f a m o u n t s i n t h e b o o k s m a i n t a i n e d b y a n a s s e s s e e . ( b ) S u c h c r e d i t h a s t o b e a s u m d u r i n g t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r . ( c ) T h e a s s e s s e e o f f e r s n o e x p l a n a t i o n a b o u t t h e n at u r e a n d s o u r c e o f s u c h c r e d i t . ( d ) T h e e x p l a n a t i o n o f f e r i s n o t s a t i s f a c t o r y T h e n t h e s u m s s o c r e d i t e d c a n b e t r e a t e d a s i n c o m e o f t h e a s s e s s e e f o r t h a t p r e v i o u s y e a r . T h e i s s u e o f b u r d e n o f p r o of h a s b e e n l a i d o u t b y t h e v e r d i c t o f h o n ’ b l e A p e x c o u r t . I n t h e c as e K a l e K h a n M o h a m m a d H a n i f v s . C I T ( S C ) 5 0 I T R 1 , i t w a s d e c i d e d t h a t o n u s o f p r o v i n g t h e s o u r c e o f a s u m o f m o n e y f o u n d t o h a v e b e e n r e c e i v e d b y a n a s s e s s e e i s o n h i m . Wh e n t h e n a t u r e a n d s o u r ce o f a r e c e i p t , w h e t h e r i t b e o f m o n e y o r o t h e r p r o p e r t y c a n n o t b e s a t i s f a c t o r i l y e x p l a i n e d b y t h e a s s e s s e e , i t i s o p e n t o t h e r e v e n ue t o h o l d t h a t i t i s t h e i n c o m e o f t h e a s s e s s e e a n d n o f u r t h e r b u r d e n l ie s o n t h e r e v e n u e t o s h o w t h a t t h e i n c o m e i s f r o m a n y p a r t i c u l a r s o u rc e . 3 . 1 . 6 H o n ’ b l e S C i n t h e c a s e o f S r e e l e k h a B a n e r j e e v s C I T (1 9 6 3 ) 4 9 I T R 1 1 2 , 1 1 7 e x a m i n i n g t h e b u r d e n o f p r o o f u / s . 6 8 ha s h e l d t h a t , w h e n a c r e d i t e n t r y a p p e a r s i n t h e a s s e s s e e ’ s b o o k s o f a c c o u n t i n a n a c c o u n t i n g y e a r , t h e a s s e s s e e h a s a l e g a l o b l i g a t i on t o e x p l a i n t h e n a t u r e a n d s o u r c e o f s u c h c r e d i t . I n t h e s a m e j u d g em e n t , t h e H o n ’ b l e c o u r t h a s h e l d t h a t , t h e v e r y w o r d s “ a n u n di s c l o s e d s o u r c e ” s h o w t h a t t h e d i s c l o s u r e m u s t c o m e f r o m t h e a s s e s s e e a n d n o t f r o m t h e d e p a r t m e n t . H o n ’ b l e K e r a l a H C i n t h e ca s e o f M . A . U n n e e r i K u t t y v s C I T ( 1 9 9 2 ) 1 9 8 I T R 1 4 7 , 1 5 0 (K e r a l a) e x a m i n i n g i n g r e d i e n t s o f a s s e s s e e ' s o n u s h a s h e l d t h a t , i t i s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e a s s e s s e e t o p r o o f p r i m a f a c i e t h e t r a n s a c t i o n w h i c h r e s u l t s i n a c r e d i t i n h i s b o o k s o f a c c o u n t . S u c h p r o o f i n c l u d e s, p r o o f o f t h e i d e n t i t y o f c r e d i t o r s , c a p a c i t y o f s u c h c r e d i t o r s to a d v a n c e t h e m o n e y a n d l a s t l y , t h e g e n u i n e n e s s o f t h e t r a n s a c t i on . T h e s e t h i n g s m u s t h e p r o v e d p r i m a f a c i e b y t h e a s s e s s e e a n d o n l y a f t e r t h e I.T.A No.1605/Del/2018 6 a s s e s s e e h a s a d d u c e d e v i d e n c e t o e s t a b l i s h p r i m a f ac i e t h e a f o r e s a i d , t h e o n u s s h i f t s o n t h e d e p a r t m e n t . M e r e ly e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e c r e d i t o r i s n o t e n o u g h . 3 . 1 . 7 H o n ’ b l e S C e x a m i n i n g t h e i s s u e o f e x p l a n a t i o n b y t h e a s s e s s e e a s a p a r t o f h i s o n u s u / s 6 8 o f t h e A c t i n t h e c a s e o f S u m a t i D a y a l r e p o r t e d a s 2 1 4 I T R 8 0 1 h a s h e l d a s u n d e r . “ I t i s n o d o u b t t r u e t h a t i n a l l c a s e s i n w h i c h a re c e i p t i s s o u g h t t o b e t a x e d a s i n c o m e , t h e b u r d e n l i e s u p o n t h e d e p a r tm e n t t o p r o v e t h a t i t i s w i t h i n t h e t a x i n g p r o v i s i o n a n d i f a r e ce i p t i s i n t h e n a t u r e o f i n c o m e , t h e b u r d e n o f p r o v i n g t h a t i t i s n o t t a x a b l e b e c a u s e i t f a l l s w i t h i n a n e x e m p t i o n p r o v i d e d b y t he A c t l i e s u p o n t h e a s s e s s e e . (s e e P a r i m i s e t t i S e e t h a r a m a m m a ( 1 9 6 5 ) 5 7 I T R 5 3 2 a t p a g e 5 3 6 ) . B u t i n v i e w o f S e c t i o n 6 8 o f t h e A c t , w he r e a n y s u m i s f o u n d c r e d i t e d i n t h e b o o k s o f t h e a s s e s s e e f o r a n y p r e v i o u s y e a r , t h e s a m e b e c h a r g e d t o I n c o m e T a x a s t h e i n c o m e o f t h e a s s e s s e e o f t h a t p r e v i o u s y e a r , i f t h e e x p l a n a t i o n o f f e r e d by t h e a s s e s s e e a b o u t t h e n a t u r e a n d s o u r c e t h e r e f o r e i s , i n t h e o pi n i o n o f t h e A O , n o t s a t i s f a c t o r y . I n s u c h c a s e , t h e r e i s , p r i m a f a ci e , e v i d e n c e a g a i n s t t h e a s s e s s e e , v i z t h e r e c e i p t o f m o n e y , a n d i f h e f a i l s t o r e b u t i t t h e s a i d e v i d e n c e b e i n g u n r e b u t t e d , c a n b e u s e d a g a i n s t h i m b y h o l d i n g t h a t i t w a s r e c e i p t o f a n i n c o m e n a tu r e . ” 3 . 1 . 8 F u r t h e r , i n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , i t i s p e r t i n e n t t o m e n t i o n t h a t s e c t i o n 6 8 i s a s t a t u t o r y r e c o g n i t i o n o f w h a t w a s pr e v i o u s l y e s t a b l i s h e d b y j u d i c i a l d e c i s i o n s u n d e r t h e 1 9 2 2 A ct t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t w h e r e c e r t a i n s u m s o f m o n e y w e r e c l a i m e d b y t he a s s e s s e e t o h a v e b e e n c r e d i t e d , i t w a s f o r t h e a s s e s s e e t o p r o ve b y c o g e n t a n d p r o p e r e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e r e w e r e g e n u i n e a s t h e f a c ts a r e e x c l u s i v e l y w i t h i n a s s e s s e e ' s k n o w l e d g e [ S i k r i & C o . P . L t d . v s. C I T ( 1 9 7 7 ) 1 0 6 I T R 6 8 2 , 6 8 8 ( C a l . ) , C I T v s . K u l w a n t K a u r (1 9 8 0 ) 1 21 I T R 9 1 4 ( D e l . ) , C I T v s . S a h i b g a n j E l e c t r i c C a b l e s P . L t d . (1 9 7 8 ) 1 1 5 I T R 4 0 8 , 4 1 4 ( C a l . )] . F u r t h e r , i n N a n a k C h a n d r a L a x m a n D a s v s . C I T ( 1 9 8 3 ) 4 0 I T R 1 5 1 , 1 5 5 ( A l l . ) , i t w a s h e l d t h a t , s ec t i o n 6 8 g i v e s a s t a t u t o r y r e c o g n i t i o n t o t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t c a s h c re d i t s w h i c h a r e n o t s a t i s f a c t o r i l y e x p l a i n e d m a y b e a s s e s s e d a s i n c o m e . 3 . 1 . 9 O n t h e b a s i s o f a b o v e d i s c u s s i o n c o n s i d e r i n g t h e r a t i o o f v a r i o u s j u d i c i a l a n n o u n c e m e n t s , i t c a n b e c o n c l u d e d t h a t i t i s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t t o p r o v e p r i m a f a c i e t he t r a n s a c t i o n s w h i c h r e s u l t s i n c r e d i t i n h i s b o o k s o f a c c o u n t s . Su c h p r o o f i n c l u d e s p r o o f o f t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e c r e d i t o r s , t h e c a p a c i ty o f s u c h c r e d i t o r s t o a d v a n c e m o n e y a n d l a s t l y t h e g e n u i n e n e s s o f t h e t r a n s a c t i o n s . T h e s e t h i n g s m u s t b e p r o v e d p r i m a f a c i e b y t h e a p p el l a n t a n d o n l y a f t e r t h e a s s e s s e e h a s a d d u c e d e v i d e n c e t o e s t a b l i sh p r i m a f a c i e t h e a f o r e s a i d , t h e o n u s s h i f t s o n t h e D e p a r t m e n t . M e r e ly e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e c r e d i t o r i s n o t e n o u g h a s h e l d i n [ S h a n k a r I n d u s t r i e s v s . C I T (1 9 7 8 ) 1 1 4 I T R 6 8 9 (C a l . ) , C . K an t & C o . v s . C I T ( 1 9 8 0 ) 1 2 6 I T R 6 3 ( C a l . ) , P r a k a s h T e x t i l e A g e n c y v s. C I T ( 1 9 8 0 ) 1 2 1 I T R 8 9 0 (C a l . ) O r i e n t a l Wi r e I n d u s t r i e s P v t . L td . v s . C I T ( 1 9 8 1 ) I.T.A No.1605/Del/2018 7 1 3 1 I T R 6 8 8 ( C a l . ) , C I T v s . U n i t e d C o m m e r c i a l a n d In d u s t r i a l C o . P v t . L t d . ( 1 9 9 1 ) 1 8 7 I T R 5 9 6 , 5 9 9 ( C a l . ) . F u r t h e r , i n B h a r a t i P v t . L t d . v s . C I T ( 1 9 7 8 ) 1 1 1 I T R 9 5 1 (C a l . ) , C I T v s . WJ Wa l k e r & C o . ( 1 9 7 9 ) 1 1 7 I T R 6 9 0 , 6 9 4 (C a l . ) C I T v s . U n i t e d C o m m er c i a l & I n d u s t r i a l C o . P v t . L t d . ( 1 9 9 1 ) 1 8 7 I T R 5 9 6 , 5 9 9 ( Ca l . ) i t w a s h e l d t h a t m e r e f i l i n g o f c o n f i r m a t o r y l e t t e r s d o e s n o t di s c h a r g e t h e o n u s t h a t l i e s o n t h e a s s e s s e e . M e r e f u r n i s h i n g o f t h e pa r t i c u l a r s i s n o t e n o u g h . M e r e p a y m e n t b y a / c p a y e e c h e q u e s i s n o t s ac r o s a n c t n o r c a n i t m a k e a n o n - g e n u i n e t r a n s a c t i o n g e n u i n e [ C I T v s . P r e c i s i o n P v t . L t d . (1 9 9 4 ) 2 0 8 I T R 4 6 5 , 4 7 0 , 4 7 1 (C a l . ) , C f . N i z a m Wo o l A g e n c y v s . C I T ( 1 9 9 2 ) 1 9 3 I T R 3 1 8 , 3 2 0 ( A l l . ) . 3 . 1 . 1 0 I n v i e w o f t h e a b o v e d i s c u s s i o n a n d r a t i o o f j u d i c i a l p r o n o u n c e m e n t s , i t i s h e l d t h a t a s s e s s e e h a s f a i l e d t o s u b s t a n t i a t e i t s c l a i m w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e o n u s t o b e d i s c h a r g e d b y i t t o e x p l a i n t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e c r e d i t o r s / i n v e s t o r s t h e i r c r e di t w o r t h i n e s s a n d g e n u i n e n e s s o f t h e t r a n s a c t i o n s a s p r o v i d e d i n S e c ti o n 6 8 o f t h e A c t w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e c l a i m o f r e c e i v i n g a d v a n c e / e a rn e s t m o n e y i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h s a l e / p u r c h a s e o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d . I t i s a f a c t t h a t a p a r t f r o m s h i f t i n g t h e o n u s o n t h e A s s e s s i n g O f f i ce r t o m a k e e n q u i r i e s , t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s m i s e r a b l y f a i l e d t o d is c h a r g e h i s o n u s a s p e r t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e A c t d e s p i t e b e i n g g i v en a m p l e o p p o r t u n i t i e s n o t o n l y d u r i n g t h e a s s e s s m e n t s t a g e b u t e v e n d u r i n g t h e a p p e l l a t e s t a g e . M e r e f i l i n g o f c o m p u t e r g e n e r at e d / t y p e d c o p i e s o f d o c u m e n t s w i t h o u t t h e i r r e g i s t r a t i o n w i t h t h e c om p e t e n t a u t h o r i t y i s h a v i n g n o e v i d e n t i a r y v a l u e a n d t h e g e n u i n e n e s s o f t h e c l a i m o f t r a n s a c t i o n m e n t i o n e d t h e r e i n c a n n o t b e v e r i f i e d u nl e s s t h e y a r e s u p p o r t e d w i t h o t h e r c o r r o b o r a t i v e e v i d e n c e . H e n c e , I a m o f t h e c o n s i d e r e d v i e w t h a t n o i n t e r f e r e n c e i s c a l l e d f o r t o t h e a b o v e a d d i t i o n o f R s . 5 6 , 0 0 , 0 0 0 / - m a d e b y t h e A O w h i c h i s u p h e l d a n d t h e g r o u n d t a k e n b y t h e a p p e l l a n t i s d i s m i s s e d . 4 . G r o u n d N o s . 2 & 3 a r e g e n e r a l i n n a t u r e a n d d o no t c a l l f o r a n y s p e c i f i c a d j u d i c a t i o n . ” 5. Aggrieved by the denial of relief b y the C IT( A) , the assessee preferred appeal before the Tribunal. 6. When the matter was called for hearing, none appeared for the assessee. It is noticed that multiple opportunities were given to the assessee in the past and the adjourn ment wa s liberally granted as and when de manded. It is thus gauged that the continued non attendance is deliberate and willful disobedience. Having regard to the lackadaisical approach of the assessee, the I.T.A No.1605/Del/2018 8 matter is proceeded ex-parte. 7. We have heard the submissions on behalf of the Revenue and also perused the assessment order and the first appellate order. No separate paper book is available on record. 8. On perusal of the facts and circu mstances e merging fro m the case records, we do not find any mitigating circu mstances existing in the case to dislodge the action of Revenue Authorities. The assessee has mad e large cash deposits and on being inquired has failed to explain the nature and source of such cash deposits. The assessee has neither produced the so called lenders nor provided any authentic evidence to support its clai m of cash rec eipts fro m parties against sale of property and cancellation thereof. To our mind, the CI T(A) h as rightly observed that the onus in the instant case has not been discharged at all. No evidence has been filed before the Tribunal at all in rebuttal. Under such circumstances, we are constraint to endorse the view taken by the CIT(A). Hence , we decline to interfere. 9. In the result, the appeal of the assessee is dismissed ex- parte. Order pronounced in the open Court on 04/01/2023. Sd/- Sd/- [ANUBHAV SHARMA] [PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA] JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER DATED: /01/2023 Prabhat