IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL “A” BENCH, MUMBAI BEFORE SHRI PRASHANT MAHARISHI, AM AND MS. KAVITHA RAJAGOPAL, JM I TA N o. 260 7 / M u m/ 20 2 3 ( A ss e s s me n t Y e a r: 2014 -1 5 ) Anil Dadarao Garad W-34, Morivali, MIDC, Ambernath, Thane-421 501 V s. ITO, Ward 2(1), Kalyan P A N / G I R N o. AA Z P G 8 732 G (Assessee) : (Respondent) Assessee by : None Respondent by : Shri Manoj Kumar Sinha D a te o f H e a r i n g : 13.11.2023 D ate of P ro n ou n ce me n t : 14.11.2023 O R D E R Per Kavitha Rajagopal, J M: This appeal has been filed by the assessee, challenging the order of the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (‘ld.CIT(A) for short), National Faceless Appeal Centre (‘NFAC’ for short) passed u/s.250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (‘the Act'), pertaining to the Assessment Year (‘A.Y.’ for short) 2014-15. 2. As there was no representation on behalf of the assessee, we hereby proceed to decide this appeal by hearing the learned Departmental Representative ('ld.DR' for short) and on perusal of the material available on record. 3. The assessee has challenged the ex parte order of the ld. CIT(A) upholding the addition of Rs.2,48,65,580/- towards sundry creditors u/s. 69C of the Act on the ground 2 ITA No. 2 6 0 7 / M u m / 2 0 2 3 ( A . Y . 2 0 1 4 - 1 5 ) Anil Dadarao Garad vs. ITO that the impugned amount has already been brought to tax during A.Ys. 2009-10, 2010- 11 and 2011-12 as bogus purchases. 4. The brief facts are that the assessee is an individual and had filed his return of income dated 30.11.2014, declaring total income at Rs.Nil. The assessee is an individual and a proprietor of M/s. Shivjeet Chemicals & Shivani Chemicals which is engaged in the business of trading in Dyes and Chemicals. The assessee’s case was then selected for limited scrutiny through CASS for verification of “larger amount of sundry creditors”. 5. The ld. Assessing Officer ('A.O.' for short) passed the assessment order dated 27.12.2016 u/s. 143(3) r.w.s. 147 of the Act determining the total income at Rs.2,48,65,580/- by making an addition/disallowance u/s. 69C of the Act towards purchases/expenses from various sundry creditors whose identity and creditworthiness and the genuineness of the transaction has not been proved by the assessee. 6. Aggrieved the assessee was in appeal before the ld. CIT(A) who vide an ex parte order upheld the addition made by the ld. A.O. on the ground that the assessee has failed to discharge the initial onus casted upon him. 7. The assessee is in appeal before us challenging the order of the ld. CIT(A). 8. We have heard the learned Departmental Representative ('ld.DR' for short) and perused the materials available on record. It is observed that the ld. A.O. has issued notice u/s. 133(6) of the Act to the various sundry creditors shown in the balance sheet of the assessee aggregating to Rs.2,55,34,223/-. It is evidenced that only 5 sundry creditors 3 ITA No. 2 6 0 7 / M u m / 2 0 2 3 ( A . Y . 2 0 1 4 - 1 5 ) Anil Dadarao Garad vs. ITO have replied and furnished confirmation amounting to Rs.6,68,648/-. The notices to other parties were returned as ‘unserved’ and the assessee was also asked to produce the creditors before the ld. A.O. The ld. A.O. then made the impugned addition after adjusting an amount of Rs.6,68,643/- to the extent of the confirmation received from 5 parties. Even before the first appellate authority the assessee has not proved the identity, creditworthiness of the parties and the genuineness of the transaction as the assessee remained ex parte before the ld. CIT(A). 9. From the above observation, we deem it fit to provide the assessee with another opportunity to establish his claim before the ld. A.O. as to the identity and creditworthiness of the sundry creditors reflected in the books of accounts of the assessee and also the genuineness of the said transaction. The assessee is also directed to furnish the documentary evidences in support of his claim that the impugned addition was already added during A.Ys. 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. The ld. A.O. is directed to decide this issue afresh on the merits of the case on the basis of the assessee’s submission and evidences which is to be furnished within 90 days of the receipt of this order. We, therefore, remand this issue back to the file of the ld. A.O. 10. In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is allowed for statistical purpose. Order pronounced in the open court on 14.11.2023 Sd/- Sd/- (Prashant Maharishi) (Kavitha Rajagopal) Accountant Member Judicial Member Mumbai; Dated : 14.11.2023 Roshani , Sr. PS 4 ITA No. 2 6 0 7 / M u m / 2 0 2 3 ( A . Y . 2 0 1 4 - 1 5 ) Anil Dadarao Garad vs. ITO Copy of the Order forwarded to : 1. The Appellant 2. The Respondent 3. CIT - concerned 4. DR, ITAT, Mumbai 5. Guard File BY ORDER, (Dy./Asstt. Registrar) ITAT, Mumbai