Joint Commissioner of Income-tax, (OSD), Circle-7, Pune V. M/s. Adrus Estate and Properties LLP, Pune

ITA 544/PUN/2018

• Counselvise Citation: [2021] 108 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 1398 (ITAT-PUNE)
• Duration Of Justice: 3 year(s) 3 month(s) 9 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 05-07-2021
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: B
• Next Hearing Date: 25-06-2021
• Assessment Year: 2013-2014
• Appeal Filed On: 26-03-2018
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Keywords: Business income; Capital Gains
• Section: 13

Judgement Text

] IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL PUNE BENC H B , PUNE (THROUGH VIRTUAL COURT) BEFORE SHRI INTURI RAMA RAO, AM AND SHRI PARTHA SARATHI CHAUDHURY, JM . / ITA NO.544/PUN/2018 / ASSESSMENT YEAR : 2013-14 THE JOINT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (OSD), CIRCLE 7. PUNE. . / APPELLANTS V/S M/S. ADRUS ESTATE AND PROPERTIES LLP, BODHI TOWER, 548/2B, SALISBURY PARK, GULTEKDI, PUNE 411037. PAN : AASFA4658C. . / RESPONDENT ASSESSEE BY : SHRI PERCY PARIDWALA / SHRI SUKHSAGAR SYAL REVENUE BY : SHRI SUDHENDUDAS / DATE OF HEARING : 25.06.2021 / DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT : 05.07.2021 / ORDER PER INTURI RAMA RAO, AM: THIS IS AN APPEAL FILED BY THE REVENUE DIRECTED AGAINST TH E ORDER OF LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS), PUNE 5, PUNE DATED 27.11.2017 FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-14. 2. THE BRIEF FACTS OF THE CASE ARE AS UNDER : THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE IS A LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP (LLP). IT IS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDERS AND PROPERTY DEVE LOPERS AND TRADING. THE RETURN OF INCOME FOR A.Y. 2013-14 WAS FILED ON 27.09.2013 DECLARING TOTAL INCOME OF RS.10,81,448,060/-. AGAINST THE SA ID RETURN OF 2 INCOME, THE ASSESSMENT WAS COMPLETED BY THE DCIT, CIRCLE- 7, PUNE (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS ASSESSING OFFICER) AT A TOTAL IN COME OF RS.12,68,61,411/-. WHILE DOING SO, THE ASSESSING OFFICER TREATE D THE PROFIT ARISEN ON SALE OF LAND AS BUSINESS INCOME AT RS.11,76,88 ,305/- AS AGAINST THE CLAIM OF RESPONDENT/ASSESSEE COMPANY THAT THE PROFIT S ON THE SALE OF LAND AS LONG TERM CAPITAL GAINS AT RS.10,62,38,203/-. THE A SSESSING OFFICER ALSO MADE ADDITION OF RS.70 LAC BY HOLDING THAT THE RE SPONDENT / ASSESSEE HAD RECEIVED CONSIDERATION IN THE FORM OF ALLOTME NT OF CORPORATE BOX BY MAHARASHTRA CRICKET ASSOCIATION (MCA) WHICH WAS NO T DISCLOSED IN THE RETURN OF INCOME. 3. THE BRIEF FACTUAL MATRIX LEADS TO THE ABOVE ADDITION IS AS UNDER : M/S. ADRUS ESTATES & PROPERTIES PVT. LTD., IS A PRIVATE L IMITED COMPANY WHICH WAS CONVERTED INTO LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERS HIP NAMELY, M/S. ADRUS ESTATES & PROPERTIES LLP (THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE) HEREIN W.E.F 20.10.2010 PURCHASED AN AGRICULTURAL LAND ADMEASURING 2 62R (2 HECTOR AND 62 R) SITUATED AT GAT NO.167 GAHUNJE FROM M/ S. CITY PARK LTD., VIDE AN AGREEMENT DATED 22.02.2007 IN THE NAME OF ITS DIRE CTOR DR. CYRUS POONAWALLA. THE SAID AGRICULTURAL LAND WAS AGREED TO BE S OLD TO MAHARASHTRA CRICKET ASSOCIATION (MCA) VIDE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) DATED 21.01.2011 FOR A TOTAL CONSIDERAT ION OF RS.13,75,50,000/-. OUT OF THE AGREED TOTAL CONSIDERATION OF RS.13,75,50,000/-, A SUM OF RS.9,62,85,000/- REPRESENTING 70% OF THE SALE CONSIDERATION WAS RECEIVED ON 22.01.2011. IN TERMS OF THE MOU DATED 3 21.01.2011, THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE HAS TO PERFORM T HE FOLLOWING OBLIGATIONS : I) HAS TO OBTAIN PERMISSION FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL USE OF THE LAND, II) HAS TO TRANSFER THE LEGAL TITLES OF THE LAND IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE. IT IS STIPULATED IN THE MOU THAT ONLY ON FULFILLMENT OF THE AB OVE CONDITIONS THE BALANCE CONSIDERATION I.E., RS.4.13 CRORES SHALL BE PAID. IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT ONLY ON RECEIPT OF THE ENTIRE CONSIDERATION, THE POSSESSION OF THE LAND SHALL BE HANDEDOVER TO THE MCA. THE MOU WAS VALID FOR 90 DAYS WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY EXTENDED AND THE BALANCE CONSID ERATION OF RS.4.13 CRORES AND RS.2,75,10,000/- WAS PAID ON 30.04.2011 AND THE LAND WAS CONVERTED INTO NON-AGRICULTURAL LAND ON 15.02.2012. THERE AFTER, THE SALE DEED WAS EXECUTED IN FAVOUR OF THE MCA ON 01.03.2012 AND THE BALANCE CONSIDERATION WAS ALSO PAID ON 30.03.2012. IN THE RETURN OF INCOME, THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE HAS OFFERED THE PROFIT ON THE SA LE OF THE SAID LAND UNDER THE HEAD OF CAPITAL GAINS. 4. THE ASSESSING OFFICER BY OBSERVING THAT THE RESPONDE NT/ASSESSEE COMPANY WAS FORMED ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEALING IN TH E LAND AND THE SOURCE OF ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY OF LAND WAS OUT OF BORROW ED FUNDS HAD CALLED UPON THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE TO SHOW CAUSE A S TO WHY THE PROFITS ON THE SALE SHOULD NOT BE ASSESSED UNDER THE HEAD IN COME FROM BUSINESS. IN RESPONSE TO THE SAID SHOW CAUSE NOTICE, THE RESPOND ENT / ASSESSEE COMPANY VIDE ITS LETTER DATED 20.11.2015 HAD FILED A DETAILED EXPLANATION WHICH IS EXTRACTED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER AT 4.2.2. OF THE ASSESSMENT 4 ORDER. THE GIST OF THE EXPLANATION OFFERED BY THE RESPON DENT / ASSESSEE IS THAT THE LAND WAS REFLECTED AS INVESTMENT IN THE BALANC E-SHEET AND NEVER FORMING PART OF STOCK-IN-TRADE AND NO DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIE S ON THE SAID LAND WERE CARRIED ON AND NOT ENGAGED IN THE CONTINUOUS AND REGULAR PURCHASE AND SALE OF LAND EXCEPT THIS SOLITARY TRANSACTION . THE LAND WAS PURCHASED OUT OF OWN FUNDS AND NOT OUT OF BORROWED FUND S. THUS IT WAS CONTENDED BEFORE THE ASSESSING OFFICER THAT THE TRANSACT ION OF SALE OF LAND DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE CATEGORY OF AN ADVENTURE IN NAT URE OF TRADE. THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE COMPANY ALSO PLACED RELIANCE ON T HE DECISION OF HONBLE BOMBAY HIGH COURT IN RESPECT OF CIT VS. BAGUIO I NVESTMENT PVT. LTD. ACCORDING TO THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE COMPANY , THE RATIO OF THE DECISION OF HONBLE BOMBAY HIGH COURT IN BAGUIO INVESTMENT PVT. LTD., IS SQUARELY APPLICABLE TO THE FACTS OF THE PRESENT CASE. 5. CONSIDERING THE ABOVE EXPLANATION OF THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE COMPANY, THE ASSESSING OFFICER CONCLUDED THAT THE LAND WAS PURCHASED OUT OF THE PROCEEDS RECEIVED ON ALLOTMENT OF 8% REDEEMABLE NO N-CUMULATIVE PREFERENCE SHARES EACH TO M/S. CYZACHEM PVT. LTD. ACCO RDING TO THE ASSESSING OFFICER 8% REDEEMABLE NON-CUMULATIVE PREFERENCE S HARES ARE ONLY IN THE NATURE OF BORROWED FUNDS AND TAKING INTO CONSIDERA TION THE FACT THAT THE LAND WAS CONVERTED INTO NON-AGRICULTURAL LAND BY THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE AFTER THE SALE TO MCA AND THE FACT THAT RESPO NDENT / ASSESSEE HAS ALSO GENERATED HUGE PROFITS ESTABLISHES THAT MOTIVE IS ON LY TO SELL THE PROPERTY FOR PROFIT, THEREFORE THE TRANSACTION IS IN THE NA TURE OF ADVENTURE IN TRADE AND BROUGHT TAX THE PROFIT ARISING OUT OF THE SA LE AS INCOME FROM BUSINESS. 5 6. THE ADDITION WAS ALSO ON ACCOUNT OF ALLEGED UN-DISCLOSED CONSIDERATION OF RS.70 LACS. 6.1. DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, THE AS SESSING OFFICER FOUND THAT THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE RECEIVED A CORPO RATE BOX IN THE MAHARASHTRA CRICKET STADIUM ON ACCOUNT OF SALE OF LAND. THE ASSESSING OFFICER ALSO MADE SOME ENQUIRIES WITH MAHARASHTRA CRICKET A SSOCIATION AND RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT MCA ALLOTTED TOTAL 16 CORPORATE BOXES TO 13 ENTITIES FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS FOR A FEE OF RS.70 LACS. THE ASSESSING OFFICER ALSO FOUND THAT THE MCA HAD ALLOTTED CORPORATE BOX FREE OF COST TO DR. C.S. POONAWALLA FOR A TENURE OF 10 YEARS IN CONSIDERATION OF THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE AGREEING TO SELL THE PROPERTY TO MCA. ACCORDIN GLY, THE ASSESSING OFFICER BROUGHT TO TAX A SUM OF RS.70,00,000/- AS UNDISCLOS ED CONSIDERATION. 7. BEING AGGRIEVED BY THE ORDER OF LOWER AUTHORITIES, THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE PREFERRED AN APPEAL BEFORE THE LEARNED COMMISSIO NER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) WHO VIDE IMPUGNED ORDER AFTER CONSIDERING T HE DETAILED SUBMISSIONS MADE BY THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE CONCLUDE D THAT THE LAND WAS SOLD AFTER A PERIOD OF SIX YEARS AND WAS SHOWN AS I NVESTMENT IN THE BALANCE-SHEET AND NOT AS STOCK-IN-TRADE, WAS PURCHASED OUT OF ITS OWN FUNDS AND HELD THAT THE RATIO OF THE DECISION OF HONBLE B OMBAY HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF BAGUIO INVESTMENT PVT. LTD.(SUPRA) WAS S QUARELY APPLICABLE AND DIRECTED THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO TREAT THE PROFITS A RISING ON SALE OF LAND AS CAPITAL GAINS. 6 8. AS REGARD TO THE ADDITION OF RS.70 LACS AS UNDISCLOSED CONSIDERATION ON ACCOUNT OF ALLOTMENT OF CORPORATE BOX IN CRICKET STADIU M CONSTRUCTED BY THE MAHARASHTRA CRICKET ASSOCIATION, THE LD.CIT(A) HELD THAT ALLOTMENT OF CORPORATE BOX IS DIRECTLY LINKED WITH THE SALE OF LAND AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE TREATED AS PART OF SALE CONSIDERATION OF LAND. 9. BEING AGGRIEVED BY THE FINDINGS OF LD.CIT(A), THE REVENUE IS IN APPEAL BEFORE US. 10. THE LD.CIT.DR CONTENDED THAT THE FACT THAT THE LAND WAS CONVERTED FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL PURPOSE ON 15.02.2012 BY THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE ITSELF GENERATED HUGE PROFITS ON THE SALE OF LAND AND THE LAND WAS ORIGINALLY ACQUIRED OUT OF THE PROCEEDS RECEIVED ON ALLOTMENT OF 8% REDEEMABLE NON- CUMULATIVE PREFERENCE SHARES WOULD GO TO SHOW THAT THE LAND WAS ACQUIRED ONLY TO RESELL THE PROPERTY FOR PROFIT. HE ALSO PLACED HEA VY RELIANCE ON ASSESSMENT ORDER. AS REGARD TO THE ADDITION ON ACCOUN T OF ALLEGED UNDISCLOSED CONSIDERATION ON RECEIPT OF CORPORATE BOX IN M AHARASHTRA CRICKET STADIUM, HE SUBMITS THAT IT SHOULD BE ASSESSED AS A REVENUE ITEM AS UNDISCLOSED INCOME OF THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE. 11. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE LEARNED COUNSEL FOR THE RESPON DENT / ASSESSEE SUBMITTED THAT THERE IS NO MATERIAL ON RECORD TO SAY TH AT THE LAND WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED WITH AN INTENTION TO RESELL FOR PROFIT. H E FURTHER SUBMITS THAT MERE FACT THAT REALIZATION OF THE CAPITAL IN VESTMENT AND GENERATION OF HUGE PROFIT WOULD NOT AMOUNT TO AN ADVENTU RE IN NATURE OF TRADE. HAVING REGARD TO THE FACT THAT THE LAND WAS HE LD FOR A PERIOD OF SIX 7 YEARS COUPLED WITH THE CONDUCT OF THE RESPONDENT / ASS ESSEE BY SHOWING THE LAND AS INVESTMENT, PROFITS CAN NOT BE ASSESSED TO TAX UNDER THE HEAD BUSINESS PROFITS. HE PLACED RELIANCE ON THE FOLLOWING DECISIONS : JANAKI RAM BAHADU RAM VS CIT (SC) 57 ITR 21 CIT VS. BAGUIO INVESTMENT PVT. LTD BOMBY HIGH COURT (I TA 998/2011) CIT VS. NATHURAM RAMNARAYAN (P) LTD BOMBAY HIGH COURT 151 ITR 767. CIT VS. KASTURI ESTATES P. LTD MADRAS HIGH COURT 62 ITR 578. PCIT VS. JOHN POOMKUDY KERALA HIGH COURT 101 TAXM ANN.COM 244. FINALLY, HE SUBMITS THAT THE RATIO OF THE DECISION OF HONBLE BOMBAY HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF BAGUIO INVESTMENT PVT. LTD IS SQUA RELY APPLICABLE TO THE PRESENT FACTS OF THE CASE AND THAT THE ORDER OF LD.C IT(A) IS BASED ON THE PROPER APPRECIATION OF THE FACTS AND LEGAL POSITION GOVERN ING THE ISSUE ON HAND AND THEREFORE, NO INTERFERENCE IS CALLED FOR. 12. WE HEARD THE RIVAL SUBMISSIONS AND PERUSED THE MAT ERIAL ON RECORD. THE ISSUE IN THE PRESENT APPEAL RELATES TO WHETHER THE PROFITS ARISEN FROM THE SALE OF LAND CONSTITUTES CAPITAL GAINS OR BUSINESS I NCOME. THE UNDISPUTED FACTS OF THE CASE ARE THAT THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE ACQUIRED THE LAND IN THE YEAR 2007. THE LAND WAS SHOWN AS A PAR T OF INVESTMENT IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT. THE LAND WAS SOLD TO MCA FOR A T OTAL CONSIDERATION OF RS.13.75 LAKHS AND THE LAND WAS CONVERTED INTO NON-AGR ICULTURAL LAND BY THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE HIMSELF AS A PART OF OBLIGATION IN THE TERMS OF 8 MOU ENTERED INTO TO SELL THE PROPERTY. THE CHARGEABILITY OF THE PROFITS TO TAX IS NOT IN DISPUTE. IN THE RETURN OF INCOME, THE RESPONDE NT / ASSESSEE HAS SHOWN THE PROFITS ARISING ON SALE OF LAND UNDER THE HEAD CAPITAL GAINS. THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAD DISPUTED THE CLAIM OF THE RESPON DENT / ASSESSEE ON THE GROUND THAT THE BORROWED FUNDS WERE USED FOR A CQUIRING THE AGRICULTURAL LAND AND THE LANDS WERE SOLD FOR HUGE CONSIDE RATION OF RS.13.75 LAKHS AND THE LAND WAS CONVERTED INTO NON-AGRICULTURAL LA ND. THE OBSERVATIONS OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER THAT THE LANDS WERE ACQUIRED OUT OF THE BORROWED FUNDS IS REBUTTED BY THE RESPONDENT / ASSESS EE COMPANY BY STATING THAT THE PROCEEDS ON ALLOTMENT OF 8% REDEEMABLE NON-CUMULATIVE PREFERENCE SHARES DOES NOT COME UNDER BORROWED FUND S. THIS SUBMISSION OF THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE COMPANY CAME TO BE ACCEPTED BY LD.CIT(A) PLACING RELIANCE ON THE DECISION OF HONBLE KARNATA KA HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF KIRLOSKAR ELECTRIC COMPANY LTD., VS. CIT 228 ITR 674 AND NO CONTRARY POSITION OF LAW WAS POINTED OUT TO US BY THE LD. SR.D.R. THEREFORE, IN THE GIVEN FACTS AND THE LEGAL POSITION, IT CANNO T BE SAID THAT THE LAND WAS ACQUIRED OUT OF BORROWED FUNDS. THE ANOTHER FAC T CONSIDERED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER IS THAT REALIZATION OF HUGE PROFITS AT THE TIME OF SALE OF THE LAND. THE HONBLE MADRAS HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. KASTURI ESTATES PVT LTD. 62 ITR 578 HAS CATEGORICALLY HELD THAT REALIZATION OF INVESTMENTS OR CONVERSION OF LAND INTO MONEY WOULD NOT A MOUNT TO ADVENTURE IN NATURE OF TRADE. THE MERE FACT THAT THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE GENERATED HUGE PROFIT IPSO FACTO NOT ENOUGH TO INFER THA T THE TRANSACTION IS IN THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE IN TRADE. 9 13. THE CONTENTION OF THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN ENGAGED IN ANY OTHER TRANSACTION OF PURCHASE AND SALE O F LAND REMAINS UNCONTROVERTED BY THE DEPARTMENT. THEREFORE, THERE IS NO MATERIAL ON RECORD TO PROVE THAT THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE IS A DEALER IN LAND. IN ANY EVENT, IT IS SETTLED POSITION OF LAW THAT ASSESSEE IS ENTITLED TO MAINTAIN TWO DIFFERENT PORTFOLIOS I.E., STOCK-IN-TRADE AS WELL AS INVESTMENT. THIS POSITION IS ALSO ACCEPTED BY THE CBDT IN THE CONTEXT OF TAXING TH E PROFITS IN RESPECT OF SALE TRANSACTION AND SHARES AND SECURITIES VIDE CBDT C IRCULAR NO.4 OF 2007 DATED 04.05.2007. 14. IT IS SETTLED POSITION OF LAW THAT TO DETERMINE WHETHE R A PARTICULAR TRANSACTION IS AN ADVENTURE IN THE NATURE OF TRADE OR IN VESTMENT, THE TEST TO BE APPLIED IS INTENTION OF THE PARTY AT THE TIME OF ACQUISIT ION OF THE PROPERTY AS HELD BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF G. VENKATASWAMI NAIDU & CO. (SUPRA). IT IS THEREFORE, CLEAR THAT IF AN AS SET IS PURCHASED BY WAY OF INVESTMENT, THE TRANSACTION DOES NOT BECOME AN A DVENTURE IN THE NATURE OF TRADE MERELY BECAUSE AT THE DATE WHEN THE ASSET WAS ACQUIRED, THERE WAS INTENTION TO RESELL IT, IF AN ENHANCED PRICE COULD BE EARNED . BUT, IT IS EQUALLY CLEAR, AND THAT IS NOW SETTLED BY THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN G. VENKATASWAMY NAIDU AND COMPANYS C ASE (SUPRA) THAT IF THE PURCHASE OF THE ASSET WAS MADE SOLELY AND E XCLUSIVELY WITH AN INTENTION TO RESELL IT AT A PROFIT, IT WOULD BE A STRONG FACT OR INDICATING THAT THE TRANSACTION IS AN ADVENTURE IN THE NATURE OF TRADE. THIS POSITION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FOLLOWED BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN TH E CASE OF CIT VS. SUTLEJ COTTON MILLS 100 ITR 706 AND DALMIYA CEMENTS ITR 105 633. 10 15. IT IS AN UNDISPUTED FACT THAT THE LAND WAS RECORDED IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AS PART OF INVESTMENT. IT IS SETTLED POSITION TH AT THE TREATMENT GIVEN IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT GIVES AN INDICATION AS TO THE INT ENTION OF THE ASSESSEE TO HOLD ASSET AS AN INVESTMENT OR STOCK-IN TR ADE. IN THE PRESENT CASE, THE FACT THAT THE SAID LAND WAS SHOWN AS PART OF IN VESTMENT IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THE LAND WA S SOLD AFTER A GAP OF SIX YEARS WOULD PRIMA FACIE GO TO SHOW THAT THE INTENTION ON THE PART OF THE RESPONDENT / ASSESSEE IS TO HOLD THE SAID LAND AS INVESTMENT. IT IS SETTLED POSITION OF LAW THAT THE ONUS LIES UPON THE DEPARTMENT FOR BRINGING THE RELEVANT MATERIAL ON RECORD TO PROVE THAT THE TRANSACT ION IS AN ADVENTURE IN NATURE OF TRADE. IN THE PRESENT CASE, THE INFERENCE DRA WN BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER THAT THE SUBJECT TRANSACTION IS IN NATURE OF TRADE IS NOT BASED ON ANY MATERIAL ON RECORD. THE DEPARTMENT HAD FAILED TO PROVE THE ALLEGATION THAT THE TRANSACTION IS IN THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE OF TRADE. WHETHER HOLDING OF A PARTICULAR ASSET IS BY WAY OF INVESTMENT OR FORMS PART OF STOCK-IN-TRADE IS A MATTER WHICH IS WITHIN THE EXCLUSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ASS ESSEE AND IT SHOULD BE IN A POSITION TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE FROM THE RECORDS. 16. IN THE INSTANT CASE, UNDISPUTEDLY, THE INTENTION OF T HE PARTIES APART FROM THE TREATMENT GIVEN IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS I.E., AS INVESTMENTS, THERE IS NO MATERIAL BROUGHT ON RECORD BY THE ASSESSING AUTHO RITY TO INDICATE THAT THE LAND WAS PURCHASED BY THE ASSESSEE WITH AN INTENTI ON TO RESALE FOR PROFIT. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INTENTION OF THE PARTIES C LEARLY DEMONSTRATED IN THE FORM OF TREATMENT GIVEN IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS. THEREFORE, THERE IS NOTHING ON RECORD TO INFER THE CONTRARY AND THE FACTS O F THE PRESENT CASE ARE IDENTICAL TO THE CASE OF BAGUIO INVESTMENTS PVT LTD (SUPR A) WHEREIN THE HONBLE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT HAS CONFIRMED THE FINDINGS O F THE TRIBUNAL 11 THAT THE LAND FORMS PART OF THE INVESTMENT AND THE LAND WAS HELD FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS. THUS, THE DECISION OF THE ORDER OF LD.C IT(A) IS BASED ON THE PROPER APPRECIATION OF THE FACTS AND IN CONSONANCE WITH THE SETTLED POSITION OF LAW. THEREFORE, WE DO NOT FIND ANY REASON TO IN TERFERE WITH THE FINDINGS OF LD.CIT(A) THAT THE PROFITS ARISING ON SALE OF LAND SHOULD BE ASSESSED AS CAPITAL GAINS. 17. AS REGARDS TO THE SECOND GROUND OF APPEAL RAISED BY THE DEPARTMENT CHALLENGES THE FINDINGS OF LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TA X (APPEALS) THAT UNDISCLOSED CONSIDERATION OF RS.70 LAC SHOULD BE ASSE SSED AS PART OF THE SALE CONSIDERATION OF LAND AND THE FINDINGS OF LD.CIT(A) IS BASED ON THE CONSIDERATION OF MATERIAL EVIDENCE LIKE THERE IS AN ESTABLISHE D LINK BETWEEN THE TRANSACTION OF SALE OF LAND TO THE MCA AND GRANT OF C ORPORATE BOXES IN THE CRICKET STADIUM. THEREFORE, THE FINDINGS OF LD.CIT(A) IS ALSO BASED ON THE MATERIAL ON RECORD AND WE DO NOT FIND ANY MATERIAL ON RECORD CO NTRARY TO THE FINDINGS OF THE LD.CIT(A). THUS, THIS GROUND OF APPEAL ALSO STANDS DISALLOWED. 18. IN THE RESULT, THE APPEAL OF THE REVENUE IS DISMISSED. ORDER PRONOUNCED ON 5 TH DAY OF JULY, 2021. SD /- SD/- (PARTHA SARATHI CHAUDHURY) (INTURI RAMA RAO) / JUDICIAL MEMBER / ACCOUNTANT MEMBER / PUNE; / DATED : 5 TH JULY, 2021. YAMINI 12 ! / COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO : 1. / THE APPELLANT 2. / THE RESPONDENT 3. 4. 5. 6. CIT( APPEALS), PUNE 5, PUNE. PR.CIT, PUNE 4, PUNE. , , / DR, ITAT, B PUNE; !/ GUARD FILE. / BY ORDER, // TRUE COPY // SENIOR PRIVATE SECRETARY , / ITAT, PUNE.