ACIT, New Delhi V. M/s. Cairo International, New Delhi

ITA 556/DEL/2017

• Counselvise Citation: [2019] 115 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 6797 (ITAT-DELHI)
• Duration Of Justice: 2 year(s) 8 month(s) 16 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 18-10-2019
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Partly Allowed
• Bench Allotted: B
• Assessment Year: 2013-2014
• Appeal Filed On: 01-02-2017
• Result in Favour of: Partly Allowed
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: AGAINST DATED PASSED
• Section: 143(3); 142(1); 68

Judgement Text

INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL DELHI BENCH B: NEW DELHI BEFORE SHRI SUDHANSHU SRIVASTAVA, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI O.P. KANT, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA NO. 556/DEL/2017 ASSTT. YEAR: 2013-14 O R D E R PER SUDHANSHU SRIVASTAVA, JM: THIS APPEAL IS PREFERRED BY THE DEPARTMENT AGAINST THE ORDER DATED 25.11.2016 PASSED BY THE LD. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) 27, NEW DELHI {CIT (A)} AND PERTAINS TO ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-14. ACIT, CENTRAL CIRCLE-18, ROOM NO. 102, ARA CENTRE, JHANDEWALAN EXTN. NEW DELHI. VS. M/S. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL, X-355, LANE NO. 8 MOHALLA RAM NAGAR, GANDHI NAGAR, NEW DELHI - 110 031 PAN AADFC3693A (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) ASSESSEE BY: SHRI I.P. BANSAL, ADVOCATE SHRI VIVEK BANSAL, ADVOCATE DEPARTMENT BY : SH RI G. JOHNSON , SR. DR DATE OF HEARING 30/07 /201 9 DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT 18 / 10 /2019 ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 2 2.0 THE BRIEF FACTS OF THE CASE ARE THAT THE RETURN OF INCOME WAS FILED DECLARING INCOME OF RS. 59,40,208/-. THE CASE WAS SELECTED FOR SCRUTINY AND THE ASSESSMENT WAS COMPLETED U/S 143(3) OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961 (HEREINAFTER CALLED THE ACT) AT AN INCOME OF RS. 6,39,57,704/- AFTER MAKING ADDITION OF RS. 2,21,25,000/- ON ACCOUNT OF NON-SUBMISSION OF CONFIRMATION/S OF UNSECURED LOANS, ADDITION OF RS. 3,54,63,946/- ON ACCOUNT OF NON-SUBMISSION OF CONFIRMATIONS OF SUNDRY CREDITORS AND ADDITION OF RS. 4,28,550/- ON ACCOUNT OF DISALLOWANCE OF BANK COMMISSION AND INTEREST ON INVESTMENT IN CANARA HSBC LIFE INSURANCE AND ON FDRS. 2.1 AGGRIEVED, THE ASSESSEE HAD APPROACHED THE LD. FIRST APPELLATE AUTHORITY WHO DELETED ALL THE THREE ADDITIONS. NOW, THE DEPARTMENT IS BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL CHALLENGING THE DELETIONS BY THE LD. CIT (A) AND HAS RAISED THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS OF APPEAL: 1. ON THE FACTS AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, THE LD. CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN DELETING THE ADDITION OF RS.2,21,25,000/- ON ACCOUNT OF UNSECURED LOANS U/S 68 OF THE ACT WITHOUT APPRECIATING THE FACTS THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS FAILED TO PROVE THE IDENTITY, GENUINENESS AND CREDITWORTHINESS OF THE TRANSACTION DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS. THEREFORE, THE LD. CIT (A) IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN DELETING THE ADDITION. 2. ON THE FACTS AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, THE LD. CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN LAW IN DELETING THE ADDITION OF RS.3,54,63,946/- ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 3 ON ACCOUNT OF SUNDRY CREDITORS WITHOUT APPRECIATING THE FACTS THAT SINCE THE ASSESSEE HAS FAILED TO PROVE THE GENUINENESS AND IN FURNISHING THE COMPLETE CONFORMATIONS OF THE SUNDRY CREDITORS. THEREFORE THE LD. CIT (A) IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN DELETING THE ADDITION. 3. ON THE FACTS AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, THE LD. CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN LAW IN DELETING THE ADDITION OF RS.4,28,550/- ON ACCOUNT OF DISALLOWANCE FROM BANK COMMISSION AND INTEREST WITHOUT APPRECIATING THE FACTS THAT WHEN NO BUSINESS PURPOSE COULD BE ESTABLISHED WITH REGARDS TO THESE TRANSACTIONS. 4. (A) THE ORDER OF THE CIT (APPEALS) IS ERRONEOUS AND NOT TENABLE IN LAW AND ON FACTS. (B) THE APPELLANT CRAVES LEAVE TO ADD, ALTER OR AMEND ANY/ALL OF THE GROUNDS OF APPEAL BEFORE OR DURING THE COURSE OF THE HEARING OF THE APPEAL. 3.0 WITH RESPECT TO GROUND NO. 1 PERTAINING TO UNSECURED LOANS, THE LD. SENIOR DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE (SR. DR) SUBMITTED THAT DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, THE ASSESSEE WAS NOT ABLE TO PRODUCE ANY DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE UNSECURED LOANS AND FURTHER THAT THE ASSESSEE WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVE THE IDENTITY, GENUINENESS AND CREDITWORTHINESS OF THESE TRANSACTIONS. IT WAS SUBMITTED THAT VIDE QUESTION NO. 11 OF THE NOTICE ISSUED U/S 142(1) OF THE ACT AND DATED 22-06-2016, THE ASSESSING OFFICER (AO) HAD REQUIRED THE ASSESSEE TO PRODUCE THE CONFIRMATION/S OF THE UNSECURED LOANS AND A FURTHER OPPORTUNITY HAD BEEN GIVEN VIDE ORDER SHEET ENTRY DATED 20-01- ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 4 2016 WHEREBY THE ASSESSEE WAS REQUIRED TO PRODUCE THE COMPLETE DETAILS OF UNSECURED LOANS, CONFIRMATION/S OF THE PARTIES ALONG WITH THEIR ADDRESSES, COPY OF ITRS, STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS AND BANK STATEMENTS, ETC TO PROVE THE IDENTITY, GENUINENESS AND CREDITWORTHINESS OF THE PERSONS GIVING THESE UNSECURED LOANS BUT THE ASSESSEE HAD FAILED TO PRODUCE SUCH EVIDENCE. IT WAS SUBMITTED THAT THE AO WAS RIGHT IN MAKING THE ADDITIONS AND LD. CIT (A) HAS, WITHOUT APPRECIATING THE FACTS ON RECORD, WRONGLY DELETED THE SAME. 3.1 WITH RESPECT TO GROUND NO. 2 PERTAINING TO SUNDRY CREDITORS, THE LD. SR. DR SUBMITTED THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD NOT SUBMITTED THE REQUIRED INFORMATION IN RESPECT OF SUNDRY CREDITORS, AND THEREFORE, THE ADDITION WAS RIGHTLY MADE BY THE AO AND LD. CIT (A) HAS WRONGLY DELETED THE SAME. 3.2 WITH RESPECT TO GROUND NO. 3 PERTAINING TO INTEREST, THE LD. SR. DR PLACED EXTENSIVE RELIANCE ON THE OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS OF THE AO. 4.0.0 IN RESPONSE, WITH RESPECT TO GROUND NO. 1, THE LD. AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE (AR) SUBMITTED THAT COMPLETE DETAILS OF THE UNSECURED LOANS WERE SUBMITTED AND ARE ALSO A PART ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 5 OF THE ASSESSEES PAPER BOOK AT PAGES 137 AND 138 OF THE PAPER- BOOK. IT WAS SUBMITTED THAT FROM THE SAID DETAILS IT IS CLEAR THAT OUT OF A TOTAL SUM OF RS. 2,21,25,000/- PERTAINING TO OUTSTANDING UNSECURED LOAN AS ON 31-03-2016, THE OPENING BALANCE WAS TO THE TUNE OF RS. 1,16,25,000/- AND DURING THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION THE AMOUNT RECEIVED AS LOAN WAS A SUM OF RS. 1,05,00,000/-. FURTHER, OUR ATTENTION WAS DRAWN TO THE COPY OF AUDIT REPORT FOR THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION (AT PAGES 22 TO 38 OF THE PAPER-BOOK AND DETAILS OF UNSECURED LOANS RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR INCORPORATED IN COLUMN NO. 24A AT PAGE 24). THE LD. AR DREW OUR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING CHART IN THE AUDIT REPORT AND CONTAINING THE SAID DETAILS: 24 A PARTICULARS OF EACH LOAN OR DEPOSIT IN AN AMOUNT EXCEEDING THE LIMIT SPECIFIED IN SECTION 269SS TAKEN OR ACCEPTED DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR: - NAME OF THE LENDER OR DEPOSITOR ADDRESS OF THE LENDER OR DEPOSITOR PAN OF THE LENDER OR DEPOSITOR AMOUNT OF LOAN OR DEPOSIT TAKEN OR ACCEPTED WHETHER THE LOAN OR DEPOSIT WAS SQUARED UP DURING THE PERVIOUS YEAR MAXIMUM AMOUNT OUTSTANDING IN THE ACCOUNT AT ANY TIME DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR WHETHER THE LOAN OR DEPOSIT WAS TAKEN OR ACCEPTED OTHERWISE THAN BY AN ACCOUNT PAYEE BANK CHEQUE OR ACCOUNT ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 6 PAYEE BANK DRAFT AJAY GUPTA X-2065F RAJGARH COLONY GALI NO. 4 GANDHI NAGAR DELHI AIQPG9296C 1500000 NO 1500000 NO MALA MITTAL B-101, G-1 RAMPURI GHAZIABAD AJPPM1462Q 2000000 NO 2000000 NO SANDEEP MITTAL 1/522 GALI NO. 3 FREIENDS COLONY SHAHDARA DELHI AJQPM5439E 2000000 NO 2000000 NO ANAND MITTAL 522 GALI NO. 3 FREIENDS COLONY SHAHDARA DELHI AJQPM2375K 1000000 NO 1000000 NO HEMANT MITTAL H-224 OLD SEEMAPURI DELHI AJNPM3029K 1500000 NO 1500000 NO LALIT AGARWAL & SONS(HUF) X-355 LANE NO 8 MOHALLA RAM NAGAR GANDHI NAGAR DELHI-31 AAAHL0880K 2500000 NO 2500000 NO 4.0.1 THE LD. AR SUBMITTED THAT AS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE AUDIT REPORT THAT NOT ONLY THE NAME OF THE PERSONS FROM WHOM THESE DEPOSITS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IS GIVEN BUT ALSO THEIR COMPLETE ADDRESSES AS WELL AS PAN HAS ALSO BEEN GIVEN AND IT IS MENTIONED THAT ALL THESE PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED THROUGH THE BANKING CHANNELS. ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 7 4.0.2 IT WAS FURTHER SUBMITTED THAT ASSESSMENT FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR (AY) 2012-13 I.E., THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING A.Y. WAS ALSO FRAMED U/S 143(3) OF THE ACT (COPY OF ASSESSMENT ORDER PLACED AT PAGE 134 OF THE PAPER BOOK) WHEREIN THE ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN FRAMED ON THE RETURNED INCOME. 4.0.3 IT WAS FURTHER SUBMITTED THAT IT IS INCORRECT TO SAY THAT THE ASSESSEE DID NOT FILE THE REQUISITE EVIDENCES AND THAT THIS FINDING OF THE AO IS CONTRARY TO THE FACTS AVAILABLE ON RECORD. IT WAS SUBMITTED THAT COPY OF THE REPLY DATED 23-12-2015 FILED BEFORE THE AO IS PLACED AT PAGES 49 TO 70 OF THE PAPER-BOOK WHEREIN AT SERIAL NO. 11 (PAGE 51) THE ASSESSEE HAD SUBMITTED THE CONFIRMATIONS OF LOANS FROM ALL THE PARTIES. IT WAS SUBMITTED THAT AFTER FILING THE CONFIRMATIONS VIDE LETTER DATED 23-12-2015, THE ASSESSEE, ALONG WITH LETTER DATED 22-01-2016 (FILED ON 25-01- 2016), ALSO FILED COPY OF ITRS AND BANK ACCOUNTS OF ALL THE FRESH LOANS AND REFERENCE IN THIS REGARD WAS MADE TO THE EVIDENCE/S FILED AT PAGES 122 TO 133. THUS, IT WAS SUBMITTED THAT IS INCORRECT TO SAY THAT ASSESSEE DID NOT FILE DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE/S TO SUBSTANTIATE THE GENUINENESS OF THE FRESH CREDIT. IT WAS SUBMITTED THAT THE LD. CIT (A), AFTER TAKING IN TO CONSIDERATION ALL THESE EVIDENCES, WHICH WERE IGNORED BY THE AO, HAS RIGHTLY CONCLUDED ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 8 THAT THE ADDITION MADE IN RESPECT OF UNSECURED LOANS WAS UNCALLED FOR. 4.0.4 IT WAS FURTHER SUBMITTED THAT AS FAR AS THE OPENING BALANCES ARE CONCERNED, THE SAME CANNOT BE ADDED IN VIEW OF THE JUDGMENT OF HONBLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. USHA STUD AGRICULTURAL FARMS LTD. [2008] 301 ITR 384 (DELHI) AND OUR REFERENCE WAS SPECIFICALLY DRAWN TO PARA 8 OF THE SAID JUDGMENT. 4.1.0 REPLYING TO THE ARGUMENTS OF THE LD. SR. DR WITH RESPECT TO GROUND NO. 2, THE LD. AR SUBMITTED THAT OUT OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING SUNDRY CREDITORS OF RS. 3,54,63,946/-, AN AMOUNT OF RS. 1,05,70,246/- WAS THE OPENING BALANCE AND THE ASSESSMENT FOR A.Y. 2012-13 (IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING A.Y.) WAS FRAMED VIDE ORDER DATED 27-03-2015 PASSED U/S 143(3) OF THE ACT AND, THEREFORE, THE ADDITION TO THE EXTENT OF OPENING BALANCE OF RS. 1,05,70,246/- IS NOT MAINTAINABLE. 4.1.1 IT WAS FURTHER SUBMITTED THAT IN SO FAR AS THE REMAINING ADDITION OF RS. 2,48,93,700/- (RS. 3,54,63,946/- LESS RS. 1,05,70,246/-) IS CONCERNED, THE SAME RELATES TO THE OUTSTANDING BALANCE IN RESPECT OF THE PURCHASES MADE DURING THE ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 9 YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION. IT WAS SUBMITTED THAT THE AGGREGATE OF PURCHASES MADE DURING THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION IS RS. 44,60,62,805/- AND THE OUTSTANDING BALANCE AGAINST THESE PURCHASES WAS ONLY A SUM OF RS. 3,54,63,946/- WHICH WORKS OUT TO ONLY 7.95% OF THE TOTAL PURCHASES. REFERRING TO THE CONFIRMATIONS OF THE SUNDRY CREDITORS, THE COPIES OF WHICH HAVE BEEN FILED FROM PAGES 74 TO 121 OF THE PAPER-BOOK, IT WAS SUBMITTED BY THE LD. AR THAT IN RESPECT OF EACH AND EVERY CREDITOR, THE CONFIRMATION WAS FILED AND IT WAS SUBMITTED THAT FROM THE CONFIRMED COPIES OF ACCOUNT IT CAN BE SEEN THAT THE OUTSTANDING AMOUNT WAS ONLY ON ACCOUNT OF PURCHASES MADE FROM THESE PARTIES. THE LD. AR SUBMITTED THAT THESE CONFIRMATIONS WERE FILED BEFORE THE AO VIDE LETTER DATED 22-01- 2016 AND ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT PAGES 71 TO 133 OF THE PAPER-BOOK. 4.1.2 IT WAS SUBMITTED THAT IN VIEW OF THE CONFIRMATIONS FILED AND ALSO ALL THE VOUCHERS PERTAINING PURCHASES ETC. HAVING BEEN SUBMITTED BEFORE THE AO, IT WILL BE INCORRECT TO SAY THAT ASSESSEE DID NOT SUBMIT THE EVIDENCE/S. 4.1.3 IT WAS ALSO SUBMITTED THAT IT IS NOT A CASE WHERE THE SUNDRY CREDITORS ARE OUTSTANDING FOR A LONG PERIOD. IT WAS FURTHER SUBMITTED THAT THE GROSS PROFIT RATE HAS BEEN ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 10 ACCEPTED BY THE AO AND BOOKS OF ACCOUNT HAVE NOT BEEN REJECTED. REFERENCE WAS MADE TO THE JUDGMENT OF THE HONBLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. RITU ANURAG AGGARWAL [2010] 2 TAXMANN.COM 134 (DELHI) AND IT WAS SUBMITTED THAT IN A CASE WHERE THE AO DID NOT MAKE DISALLOWANCE ON ACCOUNT OF PURCHASES FROM THE RELEVANT CREDITORS AND WHERE THE TRADING RESULTS HAVE NOT BEEN DISTURBED, THE TRIBUNAL HAD RIGHTLY DELETED THE ADDITION IN RESPECT OF AMOUNT OUTSTANDING ON ACCOUNT OF UNPAID PRICE OF PURCHASES. 4.1. 4 REFERENCE WAS ALSO MADE TO THE JUDGMENT OF THE HONBLE PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF PR. CIT VS. KULWINDER SINGH [2018] 99 TAXMANN.COM 449 (PUNJAB & HARYANA) WHEREIN IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT SECTION 68 WAS NOT ATTRACTED ON THE AMOUNT WHICH REPRESENTED PURCHASES MADE ON CREDITS. 4.1.5 RELIANCE WAS ALSO PLACED ON THE JUDGMENT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. PANCHAM DASS JAIN [2006] 156 TAXMAN 507 (ALLAHABAD) TO CONTEND THAT IN A CASE WHERE THE ASSESSEE WAS MAINTAINING REGULAR BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND ACCOUNTS WERE ACCEPTED BY THE AO, IN THAT CASE AMOUNT SHOWN AS OUTSTANDING IN ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 11 RESPECT OF PURCHASES CANNOT BE ADDED. THUS, IT WAS SUBMITTED BY LD. AR THAT ADDITION HAS RIGHTLY BEEN DELETED BY LD. CIT (A). 4.2.0 WITH RESPECT TO GROUND NO. 3, THE LD. AR PLACED RELIANCE ON THE FINDINGS OF THE LD. CIT (A). 5.0 WE HAVE HEARD THE RIVAL SUBMISSIONS AND HAVE ALSO PERUSED THE RECORDS. WE NOW TAKE UP THE GROUNDS ONE BY ONE FOR ADJUDICATION. 5.1.1 AS FAR AS THE ADDITION PERTAINING TO UNSECURED LOANS IS CONCERNED, IT IS SEEN THAT UNDISPUTEDLY, THE ASSESSMENT IN RESPECT OF IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING ASSESSMENT YEAR, I.E., A.Y. 2012-13 WAS FRAMED U/S 143(3) OF THE ACT VIDE ORDER DATED 27-03-2018. COPY OF THIS ORDER IS PLACED AT PAGE 134 OF THE PAPER BOOK. FROM THE AUDIT REPORT AND THE DETAILS OF UNSECURED LOANS FILED AT PAGE 24 AND PAGES 137 & 138 IT IS CLEAR THAT FRESH LOANS DURING THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATIONS WERE ONLY TO THE EXTENT OF RS. 1,05,00,000/-. IT HAS ALSO BEEN BROUGHT ON RECORD THAT THE ASSESSEE, DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, HAD PLACED ON RECORD ALL THE CONFIRMATIONS OF THE UNSECURED LOANS. THE LIST OF FRESH UNSECURED LOANS HAS ALSO BEEN GIVEN IN THE AUDIT REPORT AT PAGE 24 AND CONFIRMATIONS OF ALL THESE UNSECURED ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 12 LOANS WERE ALSO FILED ALONG WITH REPLY DATED 23-12-2015 (COPY OF WHICH IS PLACED AT PAGES 49 TO 70 AND THESE CONFIRMATIONS ARE FILED AT PAGES 53 TO 70 OF THE PAPER BOOK). IN THE AUDIT REPORT ITSELF THE NAMES OF THE PERSONS, COMPLETE ADDRESSES AND PAN WERE GIVEN IN RESPECT OF FRESH LOANS. FURTHER, VIDE REPLY DATED 22-01- 2016, WHICH HAS DULY BEEN FILED BEFORE THE AO ON 25-01-2016, THE ASSESSEE HAS FILED COPIES OF ITRS AND BANK ACCOUNTS FROM WHERE THE CREDITS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE ASSESSEE (PAGES 122 TO 133 OF THE PAPER BOOK). LOOKING INTO THESE EVIDENCE/S, IT IS APPARENT THAT ALL THE PERSONS FROM WHOM THESE CREDITS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED ARE ASSESSED TO TAX AND THE AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE ASSESSEE THROUGH BANKING CHANNELS. THUS, THERE CANNOT BE ANY DOUBT REGARDING THE IDENTITY, GENUINENESS AND CREDITWORTHINESS OF THE TRANSACTIONS. THE AO, WITHOUT MAKING ANY REFERENCE TO THESE EVIDENCES HAS MADE THE ADDITION. THE LD. CIT (A), AFTER THE APPRECIATION OF EVIDENCE HAS RIGHTLY HELD THAT IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE THE ADDITION OF RS. 2,21,25,000/- COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MADE. 5.1.2 IT IS ALSO OUR CONSIDERED OPINION THAT OPENING BALANCE COULD NOT BE ADDED ON ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN ACCEPTED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING A.Y. AT ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 13 THE SAME TIME, THE ASSESSEE HAS FILED DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE/S TO PROVE THE IDENTITY AND GENUINENESS OF THE CREDITORS FROM WHOM THE CREDITS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR. THEY ALL ARE ASSESSED TO TAX AND PAN DETAILS WERE DISCLOSED IN THE AUDIT REPORT ITSELF. THE ASSESSEE HAS FILED THE COPY OF THEIR ITRS AS WELL AS COPY OF THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS. CONFIRMATIONS OF ALL THESE CREDITORS HAVE ALSO BEEN FILED. THEREFORE, WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THE LD. CIT (A) DID NOT COMMIT ANY ERROR IN DELETING THIS ADDITION. ACCORDINGLY, WE DECLINE TO INTERFERE WITH THE RELIEF GRANTED BY THE LD. CIT (A) IN THIS ISSUE. THIS GROUND OF THE REVENUE IS DISMISSED. 5.2.0 COMING TO THE SECOND ISSUE, I.E. ADDITION ON ACCOUNT OF SUNDRY CREDITORS, IT IS SEEN THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD SUBMITTED THE CONFIRMATIONS OF SUNDRY CREDITORS TO THE EXTENT OF RS. 1,96,52,805.72 BEFORE THE AO VIDE LETTER DATED 22-01-2016 RECEIVED IN THE OFFICE OF AO ON 25-01-2016. THIS FACT IS EVIDENT FROM PAGE 73 OF THE PAPER BOOK WHEREIN THE ASSESSEE HAS SUBMITTED THE LIST OF CONFIRMATIONS FILED WITH THE LETTER SUBMITTED ON 25-01-2016 AND CONFIRMATIONS ARE FILED AT PAGES 74 TO 121 OF THE PAPER-BOOK. THEREFORE, BEFORE THE CONCLUSION OF THE ASSESSMENT, THE RELEVANT EVIDENCES IN RESPECT OF A SUM OF RS. 1,96,52,805.72 WAS FILED BEFORE THE AO. WE HAVE ALSO GONE ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 14 THROUGH THESE CONFIRMATIONS SUBMITTED BY THE ASSESSEE AND FOUND THAT THE AMOUNT OUTSTANDING IS ON ACCOUNT OF OPENING BALANCE AND PURCHASES MADE DURING THE YEAR. 5.2.1 IT IS FURTHER SEEN THAT ANOTHER SET OF CONFIRMATIONS FOR A SUM OF RS. 1,62,12,538.37 (LIST AT PAGE 139 AND CONFIRMATIONS AT PAGES 140 TO 172) WERE FILED ONLY BEFORE THE LD. CIT (A). THIS FACT IS EVIDENT FROM THE INDEX OF THE PAPER-BOOK. WE HAVE ALSO GONE THROUGH THESE CONFIRMATIONS AND FOUND THAT IN THESE CONFIRMATIONS ALSO, THE OUTSTANDING BALANCE IS ON ACCOUNT OF OPENING BALANCE AS WELL AS PURCHASES MADE DURING THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION. 5.2.2 THE LAW IS WELL SETTLED THAT OPENING BALANCE PERTAINING TO SUNDRY CREDITORS CANNOT BE ADDED TO THE INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE MORE PARTICULARLY WHEN THE ASSESSMENT FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING YEAR WAS FRAMED U/S 143(3) OF THE ACT. IN THE PRESENT CASE, IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT THE ASSESSMENT FOR A.Y. 2012-13 WAS FRAMED U/S 143(3) VIDE ORDER DATED 27-03-2018 (COPY AT PAGE 134). IT IS ALSO WELL SETTLED THAT THE OUTSTANDING AMOUNT IN RESPECT OF PURCHASES MADE DURING THE YEAR ALSO CANNOT BE ADDED TO THE INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE AND SUCH POSITION OF LAW IS ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 15 LAID DOWN IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE HONBLE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. RITU ANURAG AGGARWAL (SUPRA); THE JUDGMENT OF THE HONBLE PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. KULWINDER SINGH (SUPRA); AND THE JUDGMENT OF THE HONBLE ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. PANCHAM DASS JAIN (SUPRA). 5.2.3 IT IS SEEN THAT IN THE PRESENT CASE, THE AO DID NOT DISTURB THE TRADING RESULTS OF THE ASSESSEE AND THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT HAVE NOT BEEN REJECTED. THE OUTSTANDING BALANCES IN RESPECT OF THE PURCHASES CONSTITUTE ONLY 7.95% OF THE PURCHASES MADE DURING THE YEAR. THUS, IT IS A CASE WHERE THE GENUINENESS OF THE SUNDRY CREDITORS CANNOT BE DOUBTED FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT EITHER THE OUTSTANDING BALANCE IS ON ACCOUNT OF OPENING BALANCE OR IT IS ON ACCOUNT OF PURCHASES MADE DURING THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION. THEREFORE, WE HOLD THAT TO THE EXTENT OF RS. 1,96,52,805.72, FOR WHICH THE CONFIRMATIONS WERE FILED BEFORE THE AO, THE ADDITION HAS BEEN CORRECTLY DELETED BY THE LD. CIT (A) AND WE DECLINE TO INTERFERE WITH SUCH DELETION. HOWEVER, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE FACT THAT THE ASSESSEE DID NOT FURNISH CONFIRMATIONS OF SUNDRY CREDITORS TO THE TUNE OF RS. 1,62,12,538.37 BEFORE THE AO AND TO THIS EXTENT THE CONFIRMATIONS ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 16 WERE SUBMITTED ONLY BEFORE THE LD. CIT (A), WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT IT WOULD BE JUST AND PROPER TO RESTORE THIS REMAINING ADDITION TO THE EXTENT OF RS. 1.62,12,538.37 TO THE FILE OF AO WITH THE DIRECTION THAT FROM THE PURCHASE BILLS TO BE SUBMITTED BY THE ASSESSEE IT IS TO BE VERIFIED THAT THE AMOUNT OUTSTANDING IS ONLY ON ACCOUNT OF PURCHASES AND ALSO TO VERIFY FROM THE ACCOUNTS OF THE ASSESSEE THAT THE OPENING BALANCE IS THE BROUGHT FORWARD BALANCE. IF FROM SUCH VERIFICATION IT IS FOUND BY THE AO THAT THE OUTSTANDING BALANCE IN THE NAME OF THESE CREDITORS IS COMPRISING EITHER OF OPENING BALANCE OR OF PURCHASES MADE DURING THE YEAR OR IS ON ACCOUNT OF BOTH THE OPENING BALANCE AND PURCHASES MADE DURING THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION THEN NO ADDITION SHOULD BE MADE ON THIS ACCOUNT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE ASSESSEE WILL FURNISH BEFORE THE AO THE COPY OF LIST OF SUNDRY CREDITORS PLACED AT PAGE 139 OF THE PAPER BOOK AND ALSO THE COPIES OF CONFIRMATIONS PLACED AT PAGES 140 TO 173 FILED ALONG WITH THE LIST TO ENABLE HIM TO MAKE VERIFICATION AS DIRECTED ABOVE. WITH THESE DIRECTIONS THE ADDITION TO THE EXTENT OF RS. 1,62,12,538.37 IS RESTORED TO THE FILE OF AO AND BALANCE ADDITION IS DELETED. THIS GROUND OF THE REVENUE IS PARTLY ALLOWED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES. ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 17 5.3.0 COMING TO THE THIRD ISSUE BEING AGITATED BY THE DEPARTMENT, IT IS SEEN THAT THIS ADDITION RELATES TO INTEREST PAID TO BANK ON SECURED LOANS OF RS. 19,53,28,198/-. IT WAS NOTICED BY THE AO THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD INVESTED A SUM OF RS.28,73,950/- IN CANARA HSBS, OBC LIFE INSURANCE AND FDR AMOUNTING TO RS. 6,97,299/-. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF RS. 35,71,249/- WAS CONSIDERED AS BEING INVESTED FOR NON-BUSINESS PURPOSES AND THE INTEREST AT THE RATE OF 12% AMOUNTING TO RS. 4,28,550/- WAS DISALLOWED. THE LD. CIT (A) NOTED THAT THE INSURANCE SCHEME LAUNCHED BY THE BANK AS A JOINT VENTURE WITH OTHER BANKS AND INVESTMENT WAS IN THE NAME OF PARTNERS OF THE ASSESSEES FIRM. THE PROCEEDS OF THE MATURITY WERE ALSO DEPOSITED IN THE BANK ACCOUNT OF THE FIRM AND WERE UTILIZED ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUSINESS. THEREFORE, IT HAS BEEN HELD BY THE LD. CIT (A) THAT SUCH CONTRIBUTION WAS OBLIGATORY FOR THE ASSESSEE IN THE COURSE OF AVAILING LOAN FACILITIES FROM THE BANK FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUSINESS ONLY. IT IS OBSERVED BY THE LD. CIT (A) THAT IT WAS OBLIGATORY ON THE PART OF THE ASSESSEE TO GIVE FUNDS OUT OF ITS CAPITAL FOR FDR AS THE ASSESSEE HAS BEEN AVAILING LOAN FROM BANK. THUS, IT IS HELD BY THE LD. CIT (A) THAT THERE WAS BUSINESS PURPOSE BEHIND THE INVESTMENT AND ADDITION OF RS. 4,28,550/- WAS DELETED. THE LD. SR. DR HAS PLACED RELIANCE ON THE ITA 556/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-2014 ACIT VS. CAIRO INTERNATIONAL 18 ORDER OF THE AO WHILE ARGUING ON THIS GROUND. HOWEVER, HE COULD NOT POINT OUT ANY FACTUAL INFIRMITY IN THE FINDINGS RECORDED BY THE LD. CIT (A) WHILE DELETING THE DISALLOWANCE. THEREFORE, LOOKING INTO THE FACTS OF THE CASE AND FINDINGS OF FACT RECORDED BY THE LD. CIT (A), WHICH COULD NOT BE NEGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WE FIND NO REASON TO DISTURB THE FINDINGS OF THE LD. CIT (A) ON THE ISSUE. ACCORDINGLY, THIS GROUND OF THE REVENUE STANDS DISMISSED. 6.0 IN THE FINAL RESULT, THE APPEAL OF THE REVENUE STANDS PARTLY ALLOWED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES. ORDER PRONOUNCED IN OPEN COURT ON 18 TH OCTOBER, 2019. SD/- SD/- (O.P. KANT) (SUDHANSHU SRIVASTAVA) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER DATED: 18/10/2019 *DRAGON* COPY FORWARDED TO 1. APPLICANT 2. RESPONDENT 3. CIT 4. CIT (A) 5. DR:ITAT ASSISTANT REGISTRAR ITAT, NEW DELHI