DY CIT CENT. CIR 6(4), MUMBAI V. M/S. AIRMID AVIATION SERVICES LTD, MUMBAI

ITA 98/MUM/2022

AI Insights

The case involves three appeals by the Revenue against Airmid Aviation Services Limited concerning different Assessment Years. The primary issues in these appeals were the additions made for unexplained cash under section 69A and accrued interest on FDRs. The appeals were consolidated due to the identical nature of the grounds and facts across the different years. The Tribunal examined the merits of the additions made by the Assessing Officer following a search operation under section 132 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and found that the additions were not substantiated by any incriminating evidence. The Tribunal also referenced a similar case involving another entity of the Indiabulls group, where the additions were deleted, and the decision was upheld by the Tribunal.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 126950 (ITAT-MUMBAI)
• Duration Of Justice: 1 year(s) 29 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 16-02-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: A
• Next Hearing Date: 13-02-2023
• Assessment Year: 2011-2012
• Appeal Filed On: 18-01-2022
• Other Referred Cases: CIT vs. Raj Kumar Arora, E N Gopakumar vs. CIT, Canara Housing Dev. Co. vs. DCIT, CIT vs. K.P.Ummer, CIT vs. Continental Warehousing Corporation (Nhava Sheva) Ltd., CIT vs. Murli Agro Products Ltd., CIT vs. Deepak Kumar Agrawal, CIT vs. Kabul Chawla
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act 1961
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Assessee Lawyers: S K.GOPAL
• Keywords: Condonation of delay; Documents seized
• Section: 69; 143(3); 143(1); 69A; 153C

Judgement Text

आयकर य कर म ु ंबई ठ “ए ”, म ु ंबई ठ क , य यक य ए ं र म !बय " , ेख क र य के म% IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH “ A ”, MUMBAI BEFORE SHRI VIKAS AWASTHY, JUDICIAL MEMBER & SHRI GAGAN GOYAL, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER आ ं. 98/म ु ं/ 2022 ( ". . 2011-12) ITA NO. 98/MUM/2022(A.Y.2011-12) आ ं. 102/म ु ं/ 2022 ( ". . 2017-18) ITA NO. 102/MUM/2022(A.Y.2017-18) आ ं. 1426/म ु ं/ 2022 ( ". . 2015-16) ITA NO. 1426/MUM/2022(A.Y.2015-16) Dy. Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle – 6(4), Room No.1925, 19 th Floor, Air India Building, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021 ...... + /Appellant ब" म Vs. Airmid Aviation Services Limited, M-62 & 63, First Floor, Connaught Place, New Delhi -110 001. PAN:AAGCA-4214-K ..... , - /Respondent + . र / Appellant by : Smt. Shailja Rai , - . र /Respondent by : S/Shri K.Gopal & Om Kandalkar ु " ई क/ - / Date of hearing : 14/02/2023 012 क/ - / Date of pronouncement : 17/02/2023 आदेश/ ORDER PER VIKAS AWASTHY, JM: These three appeals have been filed by the Revenue for the Assessment Years 2011-12, 2017-18 and 2015-16, respectively. Since, the 2 ITA NO. 98/MUM/2022(A.Y.2011-12) ITA NO. 102/MUM/2022(A.Y.2017-18) ITA NO. 1426/MUM/2022(A.Y.2015-16) grounds raised in all these appeals and the facts germane to the grounds are identical, these three appeals are taken up together for adjudication and are decided by this common order. ITA NO.98/MUM/2022-A.Y. 2011-12 : 2. This appeal by the Revenue is directed against the order of Commissioner of Income Tax(Appeals)-54, Mumbai [in short ‘the CIT(A)’ ] dated 20/10/2021 for the Assessment Year 2011-12. 3. This appeal by the Revenue is time barred by two days. The delay in filing of the appeal is condoned on the oral request of ld. Departmental Representative and the appeal is admitted for adjudication on merits of the grounds raised. 4. The Revenue in appeal has raised as many as five grounds. The grounds No.1 to 3 of appeal are in respect of addition on account of unexplained cash u/s. 69A of Income tax Act 1961 [in short ‘the Act’] deleted by the CIT(A). The ground No.4 and 5 of appeal are against the findings of CIT(A) in deleting addition on account of accrued interest on FDRs. 5. Smt. Shailja Rai representing the Department vehemently supported the assessment order and prayed for reversing the findings of CIT(A). The ld. Departmental Representative submits that a search action u/s.132 of the Act was carried out in the case of Indiabulls group on 13/07/2016. The assessee is a subsidiary of Indiabulls group and is one of the sixteen entities covered in the search. Certain documents were seized vide Annexure -A1/13 and A-17 from the chamber of Shri Ashok Sharma at Indiabulls House, Gurgaon. The documents seized pertain and contain information relating to the assessee. On 3 ITA NO. 98/MUM/2022(A.Y.2011-12) ITA NO. 102/MUM/2022(A.Y.2017-18) ITA NO. 1426/MUM/2022(A.Y.2015-16) the basis of said documents the Assessing Officer made addition of Rs.2.00,25,000/- for the impugned assessment year. The ld. Departmental Representative further submits that during the course of assessment proceedings the Assessing Officer found that the assessee has failed to offer to tax interest accrued on FDRs. No valid explanation was furnished by the assessee for not offering the said interest to tax on accrual basis, hence, the Assessing Officer made addition of the same. The CIT(A) has deleted the aforesaid additions, hence, the present appeal by the Revenue. 6. On the contrary, Shri K. Gopal appearing on behalf of the assessee vehemently supported the findings of CIT(A). The ld. Counsel for the assessee submits that CIT(A) in the impugned order has recorded that, the facts in the case of assessee are identical to the facts involved in the case of M/s. Indiabulls Financial Services Ltd. for Assessment Year 2011-12. The CIT(A) following the decision in the case of M/s. Indiabulls Financial Services Ltd. deleted the addition in respect of unexplained cash u/s. 69 of the Act. In the case of M/s. Indiabulls Financial Services Ltd., the Revenue carried the issue before the Tribunal in ITA No. 1433/Mum/2022 for Assessment Year 2011-12. The Tribunal vide order dated 31/10/2022 upheld the findings of CIT(A). Thus, ground No.1 to 3 of the present appeal by Revenue is covered against the Department by the aforesaid order of Tribunal. 6.1 The ld.Counsel for the assessee further submitted that a perusal of satisfaction note would show that there is no mention of any issue with respect to accrued interest on FDR. Even in the assessment order there is no reference to any incriminating material on the basis of which addition has been made. It is an year of unabated assessment. In the absence of 4 ITA NO. 98/MUM/2022(A.Y.2011-12) ITA NO. 102/MUM/2022(A.Y.2017-18) ITA NO. 1426/MUM/2022(A.Y.2015-16) incriminating material no addition could have been made in assessment u/s. 153C r.w.s. 143(3) of the Act. 7. Rebutting the submissions made by ld. Counsel for the assessee, the ld DR submitted that while making assessment u/s. 153C of the Act, it is not necessary for the Assessing Officer to restrict on those issues which emanates from the evidences found during search. There is no requirement of existence of incriminating material either for invoking provisions of section 153A/153C or for re-visiting the assessment which stood completed as on the date of search either u/s. 143(1) or 143(3) of the Act. In support of her above arguments the ld DR placed reliance on the following decisions: (i) CIT vs. Raj Kumar Arora, 52 taxamann.com 172 (All.); (ii) E N Gopakumar vs. CIT, 75 taxamann.com 215 (Kerala); (iii) Canara Housing Dev. Co. vs. DCIT, 49 taxmann.com 98 (Kar); & (iv) CIT vs. K.P.Ummer, Income Tax Appeal No.174 of 2013 decided on 19/02/2019 by Hon’ble Kerala High Court. 8. Both sides heard, orders of authorities below examined. It is unrebutted that the assessee is a subsidiary of Indiabulls Ltd. and is one of the 16 group entities, wherein disclosure was made during the search and finally settled before the Settlement Commission. Thus, the amount which is brought to tax u/s. 69A of the Act is purportedly offered as additional income in settlement before the Settlement Commission. The CIT(A) has deleted the addition u/s. 69A of the Act following the order of CIT(A) in the case of M/s. Indiabulls Financial Services Ltd. for Assessment Year 2011-12 another one of the 16 group entities. The Co-ordinate Bench vide order dated 31/10/2022 has upheld the findings of CIT(A) in deleting the addition on the ground the amount has already been considered in income of the assessee and other 5 ITA NO. 98/MUM/2022(A.Y.2011-12) ITA NO. 102/MUM/2022(A.Y.2017-18) ITA NO. 1426/MUM/2022(A.Y.2015-16) entities, before the Settlement Commission. Thus, in facts of the instant case, we do not find any infirmity in the findings of CIT(A) on this issue, hence, the same are upheld and ground No.1 to 3 of the appeal are dismissed. 9. In ground No.4 and 5 of appeal, the Revenue has assailed the findings of CIT(A) in respect of deleting addition on account of accrued interest on FDR. It is an undisputed fact that on the date of search no assessment was pending for the impugned assessment year. A bare perusal of the assessment order shows that there is no reference to any incriminating material. The Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the case of CIT vs. Continental Warehousing Corporation (Nhava Sheva) Ltd., 374 ITR 645(Bom)] has held that where there is no pending assessment and no incriminating material is found during search, no addition can be made in assessment proceedings u/s. 153C r.w.s. 143(3) of the Act. The Department filed SLP against the said judgment. The Hon’ble Apex Court after admitting SLP, dismissed the Civil appeal of the Department [Re. CIT vs. Containing Corporation of India Ltd., 93 taxamann.com 31 (SC)]. Similar view was expressed by Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the case of CIT vs. Murli Agro Products Ltd., 49 taxmann.com 172 and CIT vs. Deepak Kumar Agrawal, 398 ITR 586. The Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the case of CIT vs. Kabul Chawla, 380 ITR 573 has reiterated the same view as that of Hon'ble Bombay High Court. We have also considered the decisions cited by ld. DR. The said decisions are rendered in particular facts of each case, hence, distinguishable. In the case of CIT vs. Kabul Chawla (supra) the Hon’ble High Court has considered the decision in the case of Canara Housing Dev. Co. (supra) and has thereafter followed the ratio laid down in the case of Continental Warehousing Corporation (Nhava Sheva) Ltd. Following the law expounded by Hon'ble Jurisdictional High 6 ITA NO. 98/MUM/2022(A.Y.2011-12) ITA NO. 102/MUM/2022(A.Y.2017-18) ITA NO. 1426/MUM/2022(A.Y.2015-16) Court on this issue, we see no infirmity in the findings of CIT(A). Consequently, ground No.4 & 5 of the appeal are dismissed. 10. In the result, appeal by the Revenue is dismissed. ITA NO.102/MUM/2022-A.Y.2017-18: 11. This appeal by the Revenue is directed against the order of CIT(A) -54, Mumbai dated 20/10/2021 for the Assessment Year 2017-18. The appeal is time barred by 10 days. The ld. Departmental Representative submits that impugned order was passed during COVID period. The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India had extended the period of limitation for filing of the appeals during the Pandemic. The appeal has been filed within the extended period. Hence, there is no delay in filing of the appeal. We are satisfied with the reasons explained by ld. Departmental Representative resulting in delay of filing appeal by 10 days. The delay is condoned and appeal of Revenue is admitted for hearing on merits. 12. The Revenue in this appeal has raised only three grounds assailing the findings of CIT(A) in deleting the addition on account of unexplained cash u/s. 69A of the Act. The grounds raised by the Revenue are identical, to ground No.1 to 3 for Assessment Year 2011-12. The facts germane to the addition in the impugned assessment year are identical to Assessment Year 2011-12. Thus, the findings given by us while deciding grounds No.1 to 3 in Assessment Year 2011-12 would mutatis mutandis apply to the present set of grounds. For parity of reasons, grounds No.1 to 3 of appeal is dismissed. 7 ITA NO. 98/MUM/2022(A.Y.2011-12) ITA NO. 102/MUM/2022(A.Y.2017-18) ITA NO. 1426/MUM/2022(A.Y.2015-16) 13. In the result, appeal of Revenue for Assessment Year 2017-18 is dismissed. ITA NO.1426/MUM/2022-A.Y.2015-16: 14. This appeal by the Revenue is directed against the order of CIT(A) -54, Mumbai dated 20/10/2021 for the Assessment Year 2015-16. 15. The appeal is time barred by 130 days. The Revenue has filed an application citing reasons for delay in filing of the appeal. After perusal of the same, we are satisfied that the delay in filing of appeal is for bonafide reasons. The ld.Counsel for the assessee has also not objected to the condonation of delay in filing of appeal. Taking into consideration entirety of facts, the delay of 130 days in filing of appeal is condoned and the appeal is admitted for adjudication on merits. 16. The Revenue has raised six grounds of appeal. In ground No.1 to 3 of appeal, the Revenue has assailed the findings of CIT(A) in deleting the addition on account of unexplained cash u/s. 69A of the Act. In ground No. 4 to 6 of the appeal, the Revenue has assailed the findings of CIT(A) in deleting the addition made by Assessing Officer invoking the provisions of section 79 of the Act. 17. Both sides are unanimous in stating that in so far as ground No.1 to 3 of appeal are concerned, the facts are identical(except amounts) to Assessment Year 2011-12. We find that the grounds raised by the Revenue are verbatim to the grounds raised in appeal for Assessment Year 2011-12. Thus, the findings given while deciding aforesaid grounds in Assessment Year 2011-12 would 8 ITA NO. 98/MUM/2022(A.Y.2011-12) ITA NO. 102/MUM/2022(A.Y.2017-18) ITA NO. 1426/MUM/2022(A.Y.2015-16) mutatis mutandis apply to the of grounds of appeal for the impugned assessment year. For parity of reasons, the ground No. 1 to 3 are dismissed. 18. In respect of grounds No.4 to 6 of appeal, the ld. Departmental Representative submits that the CIT(A) has erred in holding that it is a case of unabated assessment. 19. Per contra, the ld. Counsel for the assessee submits that the Assessing Officer has made addition invoking proviso to section 79 of the Act in assessment proceedings u/s 153C of the Act. The proviso to section 79 of the Act is in respect of change in share holding pattern of the company. No incriminating document has been referred to by the Assessing Officer while making said addition. The ld. Counsel for the assessee reiterated the submissions made before the CIT(A). The ld. Counsel for the assessee prayed for dismissing the appeal of Revenue and upholding the findings of CIT(A). 20. Both sides heard. The assessee is a subsidiary of Indiabulls group. A perusal of the assessment order would show that the addition made u/s. 79 of the Act is not based on any incriminating material found and seized during the course of search. In so far as the argument of the ld. Departmental Representative that it is a case of abated assessment, the same is unsubstantiated, hence rejected. In absence of any incriminating material coupled with the fact that it is a case of unabated assessment, no addition could have been made by the Assessing Officer based on any material which was already available on record at the time of regular assessment [Re. CIT vs. Continental Warehousing Corporation (Nhava Sheva) Ltd. (supra)]. Thus, ground No. 4 to 6 of appeal are dismissed. 9 ITA NO. 98/MUM/2022(A.Y.2011-12) ITA NO. 102/MUM/2022(A.Y.2017-18) ITA NO. 1426/MUM/2022(A.Y.2015-16) 21. In the result, appeal by the Revenue is dismissed. 22. To sum up, Revenue’s appeals for assessment year 2011-12,2017-18 and 2015-16 are dismissed. Order pronounced in the open court on Friday the 17 th day of February, 2023. Sd/- Sd/- (BHAGIRATH MAL BIYANI) (VIKAS AWASTHY) ेख क र य/ACCOUNTANT MEMBER य यक य/JUDICIAL MEMBER म ु ंबई/ Mumbai, 3 " ंक/Dated 17/02/2023 Vm, Sr. PS(O/S) े Copy of the Order forwarded to : 1. +/The Appellant , 2. , - / The Respondent. 3. आयकर आय ु 4-( )/ The CIT(A)- 4. आयकर आय ु 4- CIT 5. य , - " , आय. . ., म ु बंई/DR, ITAT, Mumbai 6. 67 8 9 /Guard file. BY ORDER, //True Copy// (Dy./Asstt. Registrar), ITAT, Mumbai