RAPAR TRADING PRIVATE LIMITED, MUMBAI V. INCOME TAX OFFICER-8(1)(1), MUMBAI

ITA 4354/MUM/2017

• Counselvise Citation: [2018] 126 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 0367 (ITAT-MUMBAI)
• Duration Of Justice: 7 month(s) 22 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 05-02-2018
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: SMC
• Assessment Year: 2010-2011
• Appeal Filed On: 13-06-2017
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: N HEMALATHA
• Keywords: Bogus purchase
• Section: 133(6)

Judgement Text

- IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL SMC BENCH, MUMBAI , BEFORE SHRI SHAMIM YAHYA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ./ I.T.A. NO. 4354/MUM/2017 ( / ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2010 - 11 ) RAPAR TRADING PRIVATE LIMITED 68/70, ROOM NO. 1, DARJIWALA BLDG., V.V. CHANDAN STREET, VADGADI, MUMBAI - 400 018 / VS. ITO, WARD 8(1)(1), AAYAKAR BHAVAN, MUMBAI ./ ./ PAN/GIR NO. AADCR 4677 E ( / APPELLANT ) : ( / RESPONDENT ) / APPELLANT BY : NONE / RESPONDENT BY : MS. N. HEMALATHA / DATE OF HEARING : 15.11.2017 / DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT : 05.02 .2018 / O R D E R PER S HAMIM YAHYA , A. M.: THIS A PPEAL BY THE ASSESSEE IS DIRECTED AGAINST THE O RDER BY THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) DATED 21.03.2017 AND PERTAINS TO THE A SSESSMENT YEAR 2010 - 11. 2. THE GROUNDS OF APPEAL READ AS UNDER: 1. ON THE FACTS AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE AND IN LAW, THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX OFFICER, APPEALS 14, MUMBAI, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE LD. CIT (A), HAS ERRED IN LAW IN CONFIRMING 100% ADDITION IN 2 ITA NO. 4354/MUM/2017 (A.Y. 2010 - 11) RAPAR TRADING PRIVATE LIMITED VS. ITO RESPECT OF HAWALA PURCHASES OF RS . 35,27,1 93/ - . THE SAID ADDITION MAY PLEASE BE DELETED. 2. WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE ABOVE, THE ADDITION IF ANY IN RESPECT OF SUCH PURCHASES MAY BE RESTRICTED TO GROSS PROFIT ONLY. 3. BRIEF FACTS OF THE CASE ARE THAT AS PER INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM OFFICE OF DGIT(IN V), MUMBAI, THE ASSESSEE MADE PURCHASES OF RS . 35,27,193/ - FROM TWO DIFFERENT PARTIES AS MENTIONED IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDER WHO ARE PROCLAIMED AS HAWA L A DEALERS BY SALES TAX DEPARTMENT. THESE PARTIES WERE ISSUING BILLS WITHOUT DELIVERY OF GOODS OR SE RVICES. DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, THE ASSESSING OFFICER ISSUED VARIOUS NOTICES . FURTHER, DURING THE RE - ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, NOTICES U/S. 133(6) DATED 31.12.2015 WERE ISSUED AND SENT BY SPEED POST TO BOTH THE PARTIES CALLING FOR DETAIL S OF TRANSACTIONS DURING THE PERIOD RELEVANT TO THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2010 - 11. HOWEVER, THE NOTICES ISSUED HAVE BEEN RETURNED BY THE POSTAL AUTHORITIES. AS PER THE REPORT OF THE WARD INSPECTOR, NOTICES ISSUED TO THE ABOVE SAID PARTIES COULD NOT BE SERVED AS THEY WERE NOT AVAILABLE ON THE GIVEN ADDRESS. 4. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ASSESSING OFFICER HELD THE PURCHASES TO BE BOGUS AND MADE 100% DISALLOWANCE THEREOF. UPON THE ASSESSEES APPEAL, THE LD. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) NOTED THAT THE ASSE SSEE HAS NOT APPEARED BEFORE HIM. HENCE, HE UPHELD THE ADDITION MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER. 5. AGAINST THE ABOVE ORDER, THE ASSESSEE IS IN APPEAL BEFORE US. 6. I HAVE HEARD THE LD. DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE. NONE APPEARED ON BEHALF OF THE ASSESSEE DESPITE NOTICE. 3 ITA NO. 4354/MUM/2017 (A.Y. 2010 - 11) RAPAR TRADING PRIVATE LIMITED VS. ITO 7. UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION I FIND THAT IN THIS CASE THE SALES HAVE NOT BEEN DOUBTED . I T IS SETTLED LAW THAT WHEN SALES ARE NOT DOUBTED, 100% DISALLOWANCE FOR BOGUS PURCHASE CANNOT BE DONE. THIS PROPOSITION IS SUPPORTED FROM HONBLE JUR ISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT DECISION IN THE CASE OF NIKUNJ EXIMP ENTERPRISES (IN WRIT PETITION NO 2860, ORDER DT. 18.6.2014) . HOWEVER, THE FACTS OF THE PRESENT CASE INDICATE THAT ASSESSEE HAS MADE PURCHASE FROM THE GREY MARKET. MAKING PURCHASES THROUGH THE GREY MARKET GIVES THE ASSESSEE SELLING ON ACCOUNT OF NON - PAYMENT OF TAX AND OTHERS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE EXCHEQUER. IN SUCH SITUATION, IN MY CONSIDERED OPINION, ON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE THE 12.5% DISALLOWANCE OUT OF THE BOGUS PURCHASES MEETS THE ENDS OF JUSTICE. THIS IS FOLLOWING THE DECISION OF THE HONBLE GUJARAT HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF SIMIT P. SHETH (2013) 356 ITR 451, FOLLOWED BY THE ITAT MUMBAI BENCHES IN A NUMBER OF CASES. 8. ACCORDINGLY, I MODIFY THE ORDER OF THE LD. COMMISSIONER O F INCOME TAX (APPEALS) AND DIRECT THAT THE DISALLOWANCE BE LIMITED TO 12.5% OF THE BOGUS PURCHASE. 9. IN THE RESULT, TH IS APPEAL BY THE ASSESSEE STANDS ALLOWED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES. ORDER PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON 05.02.2018 SD/ - (S HAMIM YAHYA ) / A CCOUNTANT MEMBER MUMBAI ; DATED : 05.02.2018 . . ./ ROSHANI , SR. PS 4 ITA NO. 4354/MUM/2017 (A.Y. 2010 - 11) RAPAR TRADING PRIVATE LIMITED VS. ITO / COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO : 1. / THE APPELLANT 2. / THE RESPONDENT 3. ( ) / THE CIT(A) 4. / CIT - CONCERNED 5. , , / DR, ITAT, MUMBAI 6. / GUARD F ILE / BY ORDER, / (DY./ASSTT. REGISTRAR) , / ITAT, MUMBAI