- IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL SMC BENCH, MUMBAI , BEFORE SHRI SHAMIM YAHYA , A M ./ I.T.A. NO. 6738/MUM/2017 ( / ASSESSMENT YEA R: 2009 - 10 ) M/S. MANOJ METALS 14, 1 ST CARPENTER STREET, NULL BAZAR, GULALWADI, MUMBAI - 400 004 / VS. INCOME - TAX OFFICER - 19(2)(3), R. NO. 218, 2 ND FLOOR, MATRU MANDIR, TARDEO, MUMBAI - 400 007 ./ ./ PAN/GIR NO. AAAFM 1606 Q ( / APPELLANT ) : ( / RESPONDENT ) / APPELLANT BY : NONE / RESPONDENT BY : SHRI SAURABH DESHPANDE / DATE OF HEARING : 01.03.2018 / DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT : 07.03 . 2018 / O R D E R PER S HAMIM YAHYA , A. M.: THIS IS AN APPEAL BY THE ASSESSEE DIRECTED AGAINST THE ORDER OF THE LD. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) DATED 26.09.2017 PERTAINING TO ASSESSMENT YEAR 2009 - 10. 2. I N THIS APPEAL , THE ASSESSEE CHA LLENGES THE LD. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)S ORDER , CONFIRMING THE VALIDITY OF REOPENING AS WELL AS SUSTAINING 12.5% ADDITION ON ACCOUNT OF BOGUS PURCHASE. 2 ITA NO. 6738/MUM/20 17 (A.Y. 2009 - 10) M/S. MANOJ METALS 3. BRIEF FACTS OF THE CASE ARE THAT THE ASSESSEE FILED ITS RETURN OF INCOME FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2009 - 10 ON 27.09.2009 DECLARING TOTAL INCOME AT RS.1,21,460/ - . THE RETURN WAS PROCESSED U/S. 143(1) OF THE ACT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CASE WAS REOPENED U/S. 147, BY ISSUING NOTICE U/S. 148 OF THE ACT ON 08.03.2014 AND SERVED UPON THE ASSESSEE, BASED ON T HE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE DGIT (INV.), MUMBAI, THAT THE ASSESSEE IS ONE OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE ACCOMMODATION ENTRIES PROVIDED BY SOME OF THE MVAT DEALERS WHO WERE INDULGING IN ISSUING BOGUS SALE/PURCHASE BILLS, WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED AND KEPT O N THE PUBLIC DOMAIN BY THE SALES TAX DEPARTMENT. ASSESSMENT U/S. 143(3) R.W.S. 147 OF THE I. T. ACT, 1961 WAS COMPLETED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER ON 27.02.2015 DETERMINING THE TOTAL INCOME AT RS.4,63,500/ - . 4. DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, TO ASCERTAIN THE GENUINENESS OF PURCHASES SHOWN IN THE ACCOUNTS, NOTICES U/S. 133(6) OF THE ACT WERE ISSUED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO BOTH THE PARTIES FROM WHOM THE PURCHASES WERE MADE, BY REGISTERED POST. THE NOTICES WERE RETURNED UNSERVED BY THE POSTA L AUTHORITIES WITH A REMARK NOT KNOWN, NO SUCH ADDRESS & LEFT ETC. THE ASSESSING OFFICER ASKED TO PROVE THE GENUINENESS OF THE SAID PARTIES AND THE PURCHASES MADE FROM THEM WITH ADEQUATE SUPPORTING EVIDENCES AND ALSO TO PRODUCE THE PARTIES FOR VERIFI CATION. HOWEVER, THE ASSESSEE FAILED TO DO SO, AND ONLY FURNISHED SOME DETAILS AND COULD NOT PRODUCE THE VITAL DOCUMENTS LIKE DELIVERY CHALLANS, TRANSPORT RECEIPTS, OCTROI, RECEIPTS, EXCISE GATE PASS, GOODS INWARD REGISTER MAINTAINED AT GODOWN ETC., ON GOI NG THROUGH THE SUBMISSIONS AND CONTENTIONS OF THE ASSESSEE AT LENGTH, ASSESSING OFFICER 3 ITA NO. 6738/MUM/20 17 (A.Y. 2009 - 10) M/S. MANOJ METALS CONCLUDED THAT THE ASSESSEE DID NOT PURCHASE D ANY GOODS FROM THE ABOVE PARTIES. ASSESSING OFFICER ALSO REJECTED THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS BY INVOKING PROVISIONS OF SEC. 145 (3) OF THE ACT, AS HE WAS NOT SATISFIED ABOUT THE CORRECTNESS AND COMPLETENESS OF THE ACCOUNTS OF THE ASSESSEE. RELYING ON THE DECISION IN THE CASE OF CIT VS SIMIT P. SHETH , ITA NO. 553 OF 2012, ASSESSING OFFICER CONCLUDED THAT INTENTION OF INDULGING IN SU CH ACTIVITY IS TO SUPPRESS THE TRUE PROFITS AND TO REDUCE THE TAX LIABILITY. THEREFORE, ELEMENT EMBEDDED IN SUCH PURCHASES IS TAKEN AS THE PROFIT EARNED FROM PURCHASES SHOWN TO HAVE BEEN MADE FROM THE TWO PARTIES AND ESTIMATED THE PROFIT @ 12.5% OF THE TOT AL NON - GENUINE PURCHASES OF RS.27,36,315/ - WHICH WORKED OUT TO RS.3,42,040/ - , AND ADDED TO THE TOTAL INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE. PENALTY PROCEEDINGS U/S. 271(1)(C) OF THE ACT WAS INITIATED FOR CONCEALING AND FURNISHING INACCURATE PARTICULARS OF INCOME. 5 . AG AINST THE ABOVE ORDER , THE ASSESSEE APPEALED BEFORE THE LD. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) CHALLENGING BOTH THE REOPENING AS WELL AS MERITS OF ADDITION. THE LD. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) CONFIRMED THE REOPENING AS WELL AS MERITS OF THE ADD ITION. 6 . AGAINST THE ABOVE ORDER , THE ASSESSEE IS IN APPEAL BEFORE THE ITAT. 7 . I HAVE HEARD THE LEARNED DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE AND PERUSED THE RECORDS. NONE APPEARED ON BEHALF OF THE ASSESSEE DESPITE NOTICE. 4 ITA NO. 6738/MUM/20 17 (A.Y. 2009 - 10) M/S. MANOJ METALS 8 . AS REGARDS THE REOPENING OF THE AS SESSEE, ON A CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, I NOTE THAT IN THIS CASE INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER FROM DGIT INVESTIGATION (MUMBAI) THERE ARE SOME PARTIES WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE HAWALA TRANSACTIONS AND ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN ISSUING BOGUS PURCHAS E BILLS FOR SALE OF MATERIAL WITHOUT DELIVERY OF GOODS, WHICH INFORMATION WAS BASED ON INFORMATION RECEIVED BY REVENUE FROM MAHARASHTRA SALES TAX AUTHORITY. INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED THAT THE ASSESSEE WAS BENEFICIARY OF HAWALA ACCOMMODATION ENTRIES FROM ENT RY PROVIDERS BY WAY OF BOGUS PURCHASE. THE ACCOMMODATION ENTRY PROVIDER HAS DEPOSED AND ADMITTED BEFORE THE MAHARASHTRA SALES TAX AUTHORITY VIDE STATEMENT/ AFFIDAVIT THAT THEY WERE ENGAGED IN PROVIDING BOGUS ACCOMMODATION ENTRIES WHEREIN BOGUS SALE BILLS W ERE ISSUED WITHOUT DELIVERY OF GOODS, IN CONSIDERATION FOR COMMISSION. THESE, ACCOMMODATION ENTRY PROVIDERS, ON RECEIPT OF CHEQUES FROM PARTIES AGAINST BOGUS BILLS FOR SALE OF MATERIAL, LATER ON WITHDREW CASH FROM THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS, WHICH WAS RETURNED TO BENEFICIARIES OF BOGUS BILLS AFTER DEDUCTION OF THEIR AGREED COMMISSION. THE ASSESSEE WAS STATED TO BE ONE OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF THESE BOGUS ENTRIES OF SALE OF MATERIAL FROM HAWALA ENTRY OPERATORS IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE WHEREIN THE ASSESSEE MADE ALLE GED BOGUS PURCHASES THROUGH THESE BOGUS BILLS ISSUED BY HAWALA ENTRY PROVIDERS IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE. THESE DEALERS WERE SURVEYED BY THE SALES TAX INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT WHEREBY THE DIRECTORS OF THESE DEALERS HAVE ADMITTED IN A DEPOSITION VIDE STATEM ENTS/AFFIDAVIT MADE BEFORE THE SALES TAX DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WERE INVOLVED IN. ISSUING BOGUS PURCHASE BILLS WITHOUT DELIVERY OF ANY MATERIAL. 5 ITA NO. 6738/MUM/20 17 (A.Y. 2009 - 10) M/S. MANOJ METALS THERE IS A LIST OF SUCH PARTIES WHEREIN THE ASSESSEE IS STATED TO BE BENEFICIARY OF BOGUS PURCHASE BILLS. 9 . FROM THE ABOVE, I FIND THAT TANGIBLE AND COGENT INCRIMINATING MATERIAL WERE RECEIVED BY THE AO WHICH CLEARLY SHOWED THAT THE ASSESSEE WAS BENEFICIARY OF BOGUS PURCHASE ENTRIES FROM BOGUS ENTRY PROVIDERS WHICH FORMED THE REASON TO BELIEVE BY THE AO THAT INC OME HAS ESCAPED ASSESSMENT. THE INFORMATION SO RECEIVED BY THE AO HAS LIVE LINK WITH REASON TO BELIEVE THAT INCOME HAS ESCAPED ASSESSMENT. ON THESE INCRIMINATING TANGIBLE MATERIAL INFORMATION, ASSESSMENT WAS REOPENED. AT THIS STAGE THERE HAS TO BE PRIMA FA CIE BELIEF BASED ON SOME TANGIBLE AND MATERIAL INFORMATION ABOUT ESCAPEMENT OF INCOME AND THE SAME IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE PROVED TO THE GUILT. IN THIS REGARD, I REFER TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE APEX COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT(A) VS. RAJESH JHAVERI STOCK B ROKERS P. LTD, 291 ITR 500: - 'SECTION 147 AUTHORISES AND PERMITS THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO ASSESS OR REASSESS INCOME CHARGEABLE TO LAX IF HE HAS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT INCOME FOR ANY ASSESSMENT YEAR HAS ESCAPED ASSESSMENT. THE WORD 'REASON' IN THE PHRASE 'R EASON TO BELIEVE' WOULD MEAN CAUSE OR JUSTIFICATION. IF THE AO HAS CAUSE OR JUSTIFICATION TO KNOW OR SUPPOSE (HAT INCOME HAD ESCAPED ASSESSMENT, IT CAN BE SAID TO HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT AN INCOME HAD ESCAPED ASSESSMENT. THE EXPRESSION CANNOT BE READ T O MEAN THAT THE AO SHOULD HAVE FINALLY ASCERTAINED THE FACT BY LEGAL STATUTE WITH SOLICITUDE FOR THE PUBLIC EXCHEQUER WITH AN INBUILT IDEA OF FAIRNESS TO TAXPAYERS. AS OBSERVED BY THE SUPREME COURT IN CENTRAL PROVINCES MANAGNESE ORE CO, LTD. V. ITO(1991) 1 91 ITR 662, FOR INITIATION OF ACTION UNDER SECTION 147(A) (AS THE PROVISION STOOD AT THE RELEVANT TIME) FULFILLMENT OF THE TWO REQUISITE CONDITIONS IN THAT REGARD IS ESSENTIAL. AT THAT STAGE, THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THE PROCEEDING IS NOT RELEVANT. IN OTHER WO RDS, AT THE INITIATION STAGE, WHAT IS REQUIRED IS 'REASON TO BELIEVE', BUT NOT THE ESTABLISHED FACT OF ESCAPEMENT OF INCOME. AT THE STAGE OF ISSUE OF NOTICE, THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHETHER THERE WAS RELEVANT MATERIAL ON WHICH A REASONABLE PERSON COULD HAVE F ORMED A REQUISITE BELIEF WHETHER THE MATERIALS WOULD CONCLUSIVELY PROVE THE 6 ITA NO. 6738/MUM/20 17 (A.Y. 2009 - 10) M/S. MANOJ METALS ESCAPEMENT IS NOT THE CONCERN AT THAT STAGE. THIS IS SO BECAUSE THE FORMATION OF BELIEF BY THE AO IS WITHIN THE REALM OF SUBJECTIVE SATISFACTION ITO V. SELECTED DALURBAND COAL CO, (P.) LTD. (1996) 217 ITR 597 (SUPREME COURT): RAYMOND WOOLLEN MILLS LTD. V. ITO (1999) 236 ITR 34 (SUPREME COURT). 10 . THE ABOVE DISCUSSION AND PRECEDENT FROM APEX COURT FULLY JUSTIFY THE VALIDITY OF REOPENING IN THIS CASE. FURTHER I FIND THAT THE LD. CI T(A) HAS CAREFULLY EXAMINED THE ISSUE AND HAS PROPERLY APPRECIATED THE ISSUE. HENCE, I DO NOT FIND ANY INFIRMITY IN THE SAME. ACCORDINGLY, I UPHOLD THE ORDER OF THE LD. CIT(A) ON THE ISSUE OF REOPENING. SINCE, THE ISSUE HAS BEEN DECIDED ON THE BASIS OF TH E HONBLE APEX COURT DECISION, THE OTHER CASE LAWS REFERRED BY ASSESSEE ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE ASSESSEES CASE. 1 1 . AS REGARDS MERITS OF ADDITION, I FIND THAT CREDIBLE AND COGENT INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED IN THIS CASE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER THAT CERTAIN ACCOMMODATION ENTRY PROVIDER/BOGUS SUPPLIERS WERE BEING USED BY CERTAIN PARTIES TO OBTAINED BOGUS BILLS, ASSESSEE WAS FOUND TO HAVE TAKEN ACCOMMODATION ENTRY/BOGUS PURCHASE BILLS DURING THE CONCERNED ASSESSMENT YEAR FROM DIFFERENT PARTIES. BASED UPON THIS INFORMATION ASSESSMENT WAS REOPENED. THE CREDIBILITY OF INFORMATION RELATING TO REOPENING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE LEARNED CIT(A) AND BY ITAT AS ABOVE. FURTHERMORE IT IS NOTED THAT IN SUCH FACTUAL SCENARIO ASSESSING OFFICER HAS MADE THE NECESSARY ENQUIR Y. THE ISSUE OF NOTICE TO ALL THE PARTIES HAVE RETURNED UNSERVED. ASSESSEE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY CONFIRMATION FROM ANY OF THE PARTY. ASSESSEE HAS ALSO NOT BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE ANY OF THE PARTIES. THE NECESSARY EVIDENCE FOR TRANSPORTATION OF GOO DS HAVE 7 ITA NO. 6738/MUM/20 17 (A.Y. 2009 - 10) M/S. MANOJ METALS NOT BEEN PROVIDED BY THE ASSESSEE. I N THIS FACTUAL SCENARIO IT IS AMPLY THAT ASSESSEE HAS OBTAINED BOGUS PURCHASE BILLS. MERE PREPARATION OF DOCUMENTS FOR PURCHASES CANNOT CONTROVERT OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT THE PROVIDER OF THESE BILLS ARE BOGUS AND NON - EXISTENT AND THERE IS NO COGENT EVIDENCE OF TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS. THE SALES TAX DEPARTMENT IN ITS ENQUIRY HAVE FOUND THE PARTIES TO BE PROVIDING BOGUS ACCOMMODATION ENTRIES. THE ASSESSING OFFICER ALSO ISSUED NOTICES TO THESE PARTIES AT THE ADDRE SSES PROVIDED BY THE ASSESSEE. ALL THESE NOTICES HAVE RETURNED UNSERVED. ASSESSEE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE ANY OF THE PARTIES. THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS NOTED THAT THERE IS NO COGENT EVIDENCE OF THE PROVISION OF GOODS. NEITHER THE ASSESSEE HAS BEEN ABL E TO PRODUCE ANY CONFIRMATION FROM THESE PARTIES. IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THESE PARTIES ARE NON - EXISTENT. 1 2 . HENCE PURCHASE BILLS FROM THESE NON - EXISTENT THE/BOGUS PARTIES CANNOT BE TAKEN AS COGENT EVIDENCE OF PURCHASES, IN LIGHT OF THE OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THE REVENUE AUTHORITIES CANNOT PUT UPON BLINKERS AND ACCEPT THESE PURCHASES AS GENUINE. THIS PROPOSITION IS DULY SUPPORTED BY HONBLE APEX COURT DECISION IN THE CASE OF SUMATI DAYAL VS. CIT [1995] 214 ITR 801 (SC) AND CIT VS. DUR GA PRASAD MORE [1971] 82 ITR 540 (SC) . IN THE PRESENT CASE THE ASSESSEE WANTS THAT THE UNASSAILABLE FACT THAT THE SUPPLIERS ARE NON - EXISTENT AND THUS BOGUS SHOULD BE IGNORED AND ONLY THE DOCUMENTS BEING PRODUCED SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. THIS PROPOSITION IS T OTALLY UNSUSTAINABLE IN LIGHT OF ABOVE APEX COURT DECISIONS. 8 ITA NO. 6738/MUM/20 17 (A.Y. 2009 - 10) M/S. MANOJ METALS 1 3 . IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES LEARNED DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE HAS REFERRED TO HONBLE GUJARAT HIGH COURT DECISION IN THE CASE OF APEX APPEAL NO. 240 OF 2003 IN THE CASE OF N K INDUSTRIES VS DY CIT, ORDER DATED 20.06.2016, WHEREIN HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE BOGUS PURCHASES WAS HELD TO BE ADDED IN THE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE AND TRIBUNALS RESTRICTION OF THE ADDITION TO 25% OF THE BOGUS PURCHASES WAS SET ASIDE. IT WAS EXPOUNDED THAT WHEN PURCHASE BILLS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE BOGUS 100% DISALLOWANCE WAS REQUIRED. THE SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION AGAINST THIS ORDER ALONG WITH OTHERS HAS BEEN DISMISSED BY THE HONBLE APEX COURT VIDE ORDER DATED 16.1.2017. 1 4 . I FURTHER NOTE THAT HONBLE RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT HAS SIMILARLY TAKEN NOTE OF DECISIONS OF THE APEX COURT ON THE ISSUE OF BOGUS PURCHASES IN THE CASE OF CIT JAIPUR VS SHRUTI GEMS IN ITA NO. 658 OF 2009. THE HONBLE HIGH COURT HAS REFERRED TO THE DECISION OF CIT JAIPUR VS. ADITYA GEMS, D. B. IN ITA NO. 234 OF 2008 DATED 02.11.2016, WHEREIN THE HONBLE COURT HAD INTER ALIA HELD AS UNDER: 'CONSIDERING THE LAW DECLARED BY THE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF VIJAY PROTEINS LTD. VS. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, SPECIAL LEAVE TO APPEAL (C) NO.8956/2015 DECIDED ON 06.04 .2015 WHEREBY THE SUPREME COURT HAS DISMISSED THE SLP CONFIRMED THE ORDER DATED 09.12.2014 PASSED BY THE GUJARAT HIGH COURT AND OTHER DECISIONS OF THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT IN THE CASE OF SANJAY OILCAKE INDUSTRIES VS. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (2009) 316 ITR 274 (GUJ) AND N.K. INDUSTRIES LTD. VS. DY. C.I.T., TAX APPEAL NO.240/2003 DECIDED ON 20.06.2016, THE PARTIES ARE BOUND BY THE PRINCIPLE OF LAW PRONOUNCED IN THE AFORESAID THREE JUDGMENTS. 1 5 . UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION I NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT AN APP EAL BY THE REVENUE. HENCE, IT WILL NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO CONSIDER AND TAKE AWAY THE RELIEF ALREADY GRANTED BY THE LD. CIT(A) TO THE ASSESSEE. AS HELD BY THE HON'BLE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT IN 9 ITA NO. 6738/MUM/20 17 (A.Y. 2009 - 10) M/S. MANOJ METALS THE CASE OF NIKUNJ EXIMP ENTERPRISES (IN WRIT PETITION NO 2860 , ORDER DT. 18.6.2014) WHEN SALES ARE NOT DOUBTED 100% DISALLOWANCE FOR BOGUS PURCHASE IS NOT DISALLOWABLE. HOWEVER, THE FACTS OF THAT CASE WERE A LITTLE DIFFERENT AS THE SALES WERE TO THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT ONLY. UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, I UPHOLD TH E ORDER OF THE LD. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS). THE SAME IS ALSO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECISION OF HONBLE GUJARAT HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS SIMIT P. SHETH [2013] 356 ITR 451 (GUJ.). ACCORDINGLY , I UPHOLD THE ORDER OF LEARNED CIT - A. 1 6 . I N THE RESULT, THIS APPEAL FILED BY THE ASSESSEE STANDS DISMISSED. ORDER PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON 07.03.2018 SD/ - (S HAMIM YAHYA ) / A CCOUNTANT MEMBER MUMBAI ; DATED : 07.03.2018 . . ./ ROSHANI , SR. PS / 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