The Perfect Woven Sacks Pvt. Ltd., RAJKOT-GUJARAT V. The Income Tax Officer, Ward-1(3), RAJKOT-GUJARAT

ITA 429/RJT/2015

• Counselvise Citation: [2019] 116 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 7295 (ITAT-RAJKOT)
• Duration Of Justice: 3 year(s) 9 month(s) 24 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 15-07-2019
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: DB
• Assessment Year: 2007-2008
• Appeal Filed On: 21-09-2015
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Keywords: Unexplained investment; Corroborative evidences
• Section: 143(3); 131; 6

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL RAJKOT BENCH , RAJKOT BEFORE: SHRI MAHAVIR PRASAD , JUDICIAL MEMBER AND S H RI AMARJIT SINGH , ACCOUNTANT MEMBER [CONDUCTED THROUGH E - COURT AT AHMEDABAD] PERFECT WOVEN SACKS PVT. LTD. 217, SANJAY COMMERCIAL CENTRE, RAJPUT PARA MAIN ROAD, RAJKOT - 360002 PAN: AABCP2858B (APPELLANT) VS THE I TO, WARD - 1(3), RAJKOT - 360001 (RESPONDENT) REVENUE BY : S H RI PRAVEEN VERMA , SR. D . R. ASSESSEE BY: S H RI VIMAL DESAI , A.R. DATE OF HEARING : 0 3 - 07 - 2 019 DAT E OF PRONOUNCEMENT : 15 - 07 - 2 019 / ORDER P ER : AMARJIT SINGH, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER : - THI S ASSESSEE S APPEAL FOR A.Y. 2007 - 08 , AR ISES FROM ORDER OF THE CIT(A) - 1, RAJKOT DATED 30 - 06 - 2015 , IN CONFIRMING THE ADDITION OF RS. I T A NO . 429 / RJT /20 15 A SSESSMENT YEAR 200 7 - 08 I.T.A NO. 429 /RJT /20 15 A.Y. 2007 - 08 PAGE NO PERFECT WOVEN SACKS PVT. LTD. 2 18,50,000/ - I N PROCEEDINGS UNDER SECTION 143(3) OF THE INCOME T AX ACT, 1961; IN SHORT THE ACT . 2. THE FACT IN BRIEF IS THAT RETURN OF INCOME DECLARING INCOME OF RS. NIL WAS FILED ON 31 ST OCTOBER, 2007. THE CASE WAS SELECTED UNDER SECURITY BY ISSUING OF NOTICE U/S. 143(2) OF THE ACT. THE ASSESSEE COMPANY WA S ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF MANUFACTURING OF HDPE/PP WOVEN. DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEE DINGS, THE ASSESSING OFFICER NOTICED THAT ASSESSEE HAS OBTAINED CASH CREDIT FACILITY FROM SBS (AS PER STATEMENT) UNDER TWO CASH CREDIT ACCOUNT BEARING NO. 10293092 118 AND CC A/C. NO. 10293092107. THE ASSESSEE HAS TENDERED GUARANTY OF SHRI MAHENDRABHAI LADHABHAI SATODIYA AS A GUARANTOR OF THE AFORESAID CASH CREDIT FACILITY . THE AFORESAID GUARANTOR HAD HYPOTHECATED/PLEDGED HIS AGRICULTURAL LAND AT SURVEY NO. 460, 460, 707 SITUATED AT GUNDALA ROAD WITH THE BANK . ON VERIFICATION OF THE C ASH C REDIT ACCOUNT AS CITED ABOVE , THE ASSESSING OFFICER NOTICED THAT AN AMOUNT O F RS. 4 LAC WAS DEPOSITED IN CC A/C. NO. 10293092118 ON 31 ST JULY, 2006 AND AN AMOUNT OF RS. 14,50,000/ - WAS DEPOSITED IN CC A/C NO. 10293092107 ON 31 ST JULY, 2008 RESPECTIVELY. THE ASSESSEE WAS ASKED TO EXPLAIN THE NATURE OF AFOR ESAID TRANSACTION CASH DEPOSIT OF RS. 18,50,000/ - IN THE SAID ACCOUNT . THE ASSESSEE RESPONDED THAT SHRI M AHENDRABHAI (GUARANTOR) HAD DEPOSITED THE AFORESAID AMOUNT OF RS. 18,50,000/ - IN CASH DIRECTLY TO THE CC A/C. OF THE ASSESSEE IN ORDER TO GET HIS PROPERTY RELEASED WHICH WAS MORTGAGED WITH THE BANK. IN RESPONSE TO SUMMON ISSUED U/S. 131 THE AFORESAID GUARANTOR HAS CONFIRMED IN HIS SUBMISSION THAT HIS PROPERTY WAS MORTGAGED WITH THE SBS AGAINST WHICH THE BANK HAS SANCTIO NED CASH CREDIT TO THE ASSESSEE, H OWEVER, HE HAS SUBMITTED THAT HE H AS NOT DEPOSITED ANY CASH IN THE ACCOUNT OF THE I.T.A NO. 429 /RJT /20 15 A.Y. 2007 - 08 PAGE NO PERFECT WOVEN SACKS PVT. LTD. 3 ASSESSEE MAINTAINED WITH THE SB S BANK. THE GUARANTOR HAS STATED THAT IT IS THE ASSESSEE WHO HAD DIRECTLY DEPOSITED THE CASH OF RS. 18,50,000/ - IN THE COMPANY S ACCOUNT. THEREFORE, THE SHOW CAUSE NOTICE WAS ISSUED TO THE ASSESSEE AND THE ASSESSEE HAS RESPONDED THAT GUARANTOR MR. MAHEN DRABHAI HAS DEPOSITED THE AFORESAID AMOUNT IN THE ACCOUNT OF THE ASSESSEE . THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS NOT ACCEPTED THE SU BMISSION OF THE ASSESSEE ON THE REASONING THAT THE GUARANTOR HAS CONFIRMED THAT HE HAS NOT DEPOSITED THE AFORESAID CASH IN THE ACCOUNT OF THE ASSESSEE. CONSEQUENTLY, AN AMOUNT OF RS. 18,50,000/ - WAS CONSIDERED AS UNEXPLAINED INVESTMENT OF THE ASSESSEE COMPANY AND THE SAME ADDED TO THE TOTAL INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE. 3. AGGRIEVED ASSESSEE HAS FILED APPEAL BEFORE THE LD. CIT(A). THE LD. CIT(A) HAS DISMISSED THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE REITERATING THE REASON REPORTED BYTHE ASSESSING OFFICER IN HIS ASSESSMENT ORDER. 4. DURING THE COURSE OF APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE US, THE LD. COUNSEL HAS FURNISHED PAPER BOOK CONTAINING DETAIL OF SUBMISSION MADE BEFORE THE LD. CIT(A) AND ASSESSING OFFICER. THE LD. COUNSEL HAS CONTENDED THAT LD. CIT(A) HAS NOT CONSIDERED ALL THE RELEVANT DETAIL AND SUPPORTING EVIDENCES FURNISHED DURING THE COURSE OF APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS. THE LD. COUNSEL HAS ALSO SUBMITTED THAT LD. CIT(A) HAS NOT GIVEN DETAILED REASON FOR DISMISSING THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE. THE LD. COUNSEL HAS ALSO CONTENDED THAT THE COPY OF PAY - IN - SLIP DATED 18 TH JULY, 2006 SINGED AND SUBMITTED BY SHRI MAHENDRABHAI TO THE BANK WAS ALSO FURNISHED BEFORE THE LD. CIT(A) DURING THE COURSE OF APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS WHICH WAS NOT CONSIDERED BY THE LD. CIT(A). IT IS ALSO CONTENDED THAT COPY OF CONFIRMATION GIVEN BY THE SBS IN I.T.A NO. 429 /RJT /20 15 A.Y. 2007 - 08 PAGE NO PERFECT WOVEN SACKS PVT. LTD. 4 RESPECT OF CASH DEPOSIT WAS ALSO SUBMITTED BEFORE THE LD. CIT(A) AN D THE SAME WAS NOT WAS CONSIDERED BY LD. CIT(A). THEREFORE, THE LD. COUNSEL HAS CONTENDED THAT LD. CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN ADJUDICATING THAT CASH DEPOSITED IN THE ACCOUNT OF THE ASSESSEE WAS THE UNEXPLAINED INVESTMENT TO BE ASSESSED IN THE HAND OF THE ASSESSE E. ON THE OTHER HAND, LD. DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE HAS PLACED RELIANCE ON THE DECISION OF LD. CIT(A). 5. WE HAVE HEARD THE RIVAL CONTENTIONS AND PERUSED THE MATERIAL ON RECORD CAREFULLY. DURING THE COURSE OF APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS, THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS FOUND THAT CASH OF RS. 18, 50,000/ - WAS DEPOSITED IN THE CC ACCOUNT OF THE ASSESSEE COMPANY MAINTAINED WITH THE SBS BANK . THE ASSESSEE HAS EXPLAINED THAT SHRI MAHENDRA BAHI LADH A BHAI SATODIYA WAS THE GUARANTOR OF THE SAID LOAN OBTAINED BY THE AS SES S EE FROM THE SBS BANK AND HE HAD ALSO MORTGAGED HIS LAND TO THE BANK AS A SECURITY AGAINST T H E LOAN PROVIDED BY THE BANK TO THE ASSESSEE. THE ASSESSEE HAS CLAIMED THAT SAID CASH OF RS. 18,50,000/ - WAS DIRECTLY DEPOSITED BY THE AFORESAID GUARANTOR IN TH E CC ACCOUNT OF THE ASSESSEE. HOWEVER, IN RESPONSE TO SUMMON U/S. 113 (1) ISSUED TO THE GUARANTOR , THE GUARANTOR HAS CONFIRMED THAT HE HAS NOT DEPOSITED THE CASH IN THE ACCOUNT OF THE ASSESSEE AND THE ASSESSEE HAS DIRECTLY DEPOSITED CASH OF RS. 18,50,000/ - IN THE COMPANY ACCOUNT BY MENTIONING HIS NAME. O N PERUSAL OF THE MATERIAL ON RECORD, WE NOTICED THAT ASSES SEE HAS SUBMITTED COPY OF PAY - IN - SLIP DATED 18 TH JULY, 2006 CLAIMED TO BE SIGNED BY SHRI MAHENDRABHAI AND COPY OF CONFIRMATION ISSUED BY THE BANK IN RESPECT OF DEPOSITING OF CASH BY GUARANTOR PLACED AT PAGE 43 OF THE PAPER BOOK. COPY OF SETTLEMENT APPLICATION DATED 18 TH JULY, 2006 SIGNED FURNISHED BY SHRI MAHENDRA BHAI LADHABHAI SATODIYA . GUARANTOR, WAS PLACED PAGE NO. 9 OF THE I.T.A NO. 429 /RJT /20 15 A.Y. 2007 - 08 PAGE NO PERFECT WOVEN SACKS PVT. LTD. 5 PAPER BOOK . O N PER USAL OF T HE AFORESAID MATERIAL AND OTHER DOCUMENTS PLACED IN THE PAPER BOOK , WE OBSERVE THAT LD. CIT(A) HAS NOT INCORPORATED HIS F INDING ON THE RELEVANCY OF THE DOCUMENTS PLACED IN THE PAPER BOOK. IT IS CLEAR FROM THE DECISION OF THE LD. CIT(A) THAT THE I NSTANT ISSUE IN THE APPEAL WAS NOT ADJUDICATED ACCORDING TO PROVISION OF SECTION 250(6) OF THE ACT. THE DECISION OF LD. CIT(A) IS REPRODUCED AS UNDER: - DECISION: 5. I HAVE DULY CONSIDERED THE SUBMISSION OF THE APPELLANT AND ALSO GONE THROUGH THE A SSESSMENT ORDER. 5.1 I AM OF THE VIEW THAT THE STATEMENT OF SHRI MAHENDRABHAI L SATODIYA CARRIES MORE WEIGHT THAN ANY OTHER E VIDENCE. HE HAS CATEGORICALLY DENIED HAVING MADE CASH PAYMENT TO THE BANK ACCOUNT OF THE APPELLANT. HENCE THE SOURCE OF THE C ASH DEPOSITED IN APPELLANT'S BANK ACCOUNT REMAINS UNEXPLAINED. THE AO HAS RIGHTLY TAXED THIS AMOUNT I N APPELLANT'S HANDS. HENCE THE GROUND OF APPEAL IS DISMISSED. AFTER REFERRING THE DECISION OF LD. CIT(A) AS REPORTED ABOVE, WE CONSIDER THAT SECTION 25 0 ( 6 ) CONTEMPLATES THAT FIRST APPELLATE AUTHORITY WOULD STATE THE POINTS IN DISPUTE AND THEREAFTER RECORD REASONS IN SUPPORT OF HIS FINDING ON THESE POINTS IN DISPUTE. NORMALLY, WHENEVER ANY IRREGULARITY CREPT IN THE PROCEEDINGS THEN AFTER REMOVING IRREGULA RITIES P ROCEEDING IS TO BE INSTITUTED F R O M THAT STAGE BY REMITTING THE ISSUE TO THE FIRST APPELLATE AUTHORITY. HOWEVER, IN THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE IT IS NOTICED THAT THE BASIC INQUIRY AND VERIFICATION FROM THE BANK AUTHORITY HAS NOT MADE BY THE ASSESSI NG OFFICER TO FIND OUT THE GENUINENESS OF THE TRANSACTION. THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS NOT EXAMINED VARIOUS EVIDENCES AVAILABLE WITH THE SBS TO FIND OUT AUTHENTICITY OF DEPOSIT CASH OF RS. 18,50,000/ - WHETHER IT WAS DEPOSITED BY THE GUARANTOR SHRI M AHENDRA B HAI OR NOT. IN VIEW OF THE AFORESAID AMBIGUITY OBSERVED IN THE FINDING OF LD. CIT(A) AS REPORTED ABOVE IN THIS ORDER, WE RESTORE THIS CASE TO THE FILE OF LD. CIT(A) FOR ADJUDICATING AFRESH BY SPEAKING ORDER WITH I.T.A NO. 429 /RJT /20 15 A.Y. 2007 - 08 PAGE NO PERFECT WOVEN SACKS PVT. LTD. 6 PROPER REASONING AS CONTEMPLATED IN SECTIO N 250(6 ). ACCORDINGLY, THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE IS ALLOWED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES. 6. IN THE RESULT, THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE IS ALLOWED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES. ORDER PR ONOUNCED IN THE OPEN C OUR T ON 15 - 07 - 201 9 SD/ - SD/ - (MAHAVIR PRASAD ) ( AMARJIT SINGH ) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AHMEDABAD : DATED 15 /07 /201 9 / COPY OF ORDER FORWARDED TO: - 1. ASSESSEE 2. REVENUE 3. CONCERNED CIT 4. CIT (A) 5. DR, ITAT, AHMEDABAD 6. GUARD FILE. BY ORDER, ASSISTANT REGISTRAR, INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, RAJKOT