Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale, Solapur V. Deputy Commissioner of Income-tax, Central Circle -2 (2), Pune

ITSSA 31/PUN/2019

AI Insights

Mr. Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale appealed against the orders of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-12, Pune, which confirmed the additions made by the Assessing Officer under sections 143(3) read with section 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The appeals were based on the grounds that the deposits and investments were made from the agricultural income of the HUF, of which Mr. Navale was the Karta, and that the seized documents pertained to the HUF and not to Mr. Navale personally. The Tribunal found that the documents seized during the search operation were incriminating and supported the additions made by the Assessing Officer. The Tribunal also rejected the plea that the notice under section 153C was invalid, affirming that the satisfaction recorded by the Assessing Officer was in accordance with the law as amended by the Finance Act, 2015.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 134454 (ITAT-PUNE)
• Duration Of Justice: 4 year(s) 6 month(s) 3 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax (Search & Seizure) Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 24-09-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: B
• Next Hearing Date: 24-08-2023
• Assessment Year: 2010-2011
• Appeal Filed On: 21-03-2019
• Other Referred Cases: PCIT Vs. Dreamcity Buildwell Pvt. Ltd., CIT vs. Renu Construction (P) Ltd., CIT vs. Arpit Land Pvt. Ltd., CIT v. Sinhagad Technical Education Society, DCIT vs. Late Shri Pravinsinh N Zala, Pradeep Sharma vs. ACIT, CIT v. RRJ Securities Ltd, PepsiCo India Holdings (P.) Ltd. vs. ACIT, Kamlesh Bhai Dharamshi Bhai Patel v. CIT, PCIT (Central) - 2 v. Index Securities (P.) Ltd., Tanvir Collections (P.) Ltd. v. ACIT, ARN Infrastructure Ltd. V. ACIT, Natural Products Bio Tech Ltd. v. DCIT, Shashi Garg Vs. Pr.CIT, Dineshkumar Jain Vs. Pr. CIT, KTMS Mehmood vs. CIT
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Revenue
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: SADASHIV NIVRUTI NAVALE
• Keywords: Gift; Document seized; Deemed to accrue or arise in india; Corroborative evidences; Accommodation entries; Documents seized
• Section: 131; 68; 132; 139; 143(3); 69A; 139(1); 113; 13; 153C

Judgement Text

आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण ”बी” Ɋायपीठ पुणेमŐ। IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL PUNE BENCHES “B” :: PUNE BEFORE SHRI S.S.GODARA, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND DR. DIPAK P. RIPOTE, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER आयकर अपील सं. / IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 िनधाᭅरण वषᭅ / Assessment Years : 2010-11 to 2012-13 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale, At Post Ekhatpur, Taluka – Sangola, Dist-Solapur – 413307 PAN: AQUPN 3361 R V s The DCIT, Central Circle-2(2), Pune. Appellant/ Assessee Respondent /Revenue Assessee by Shri Suhas Bora – AR Revenue by Shri Shashank Deogadkar & Shri M.G.Jasnani – DR’s Date of hearing 25/08/2023 Date of pronouncement 25/08/2023 आदेश/ ORDER PER DR. DIPAK P. RIPOTE, AM: These three appeals filed by the Assessee i.e. Mr.Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale are directed against the common order of ld.Commissioner of Income Tax(Appeal)-12, Pune dated 27.12.2018 emanating from the separate Assessment Orders u/s.143(3) r.w.s. 153C, all dated 29/03/2016. The Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale in IT(SS)A No.31/PUN/2019 has raised the following grounds of appeal: IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 2 “1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the order dated 29/03/2016 passed by the A. O. u/s 143(3) r. w. s. 153C is bad in law as much as the deposits made in bank and investments made in companies are out of the agricultural income of the HUF of which the appellant is a Karta and the bank accounts in which the deposits are made are also held and operated by the said HUF. 2. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case the order passed u/s 153C is bad in law as much as the seized papers which are claimed to be pertaining to the appellant are, in fact and in law, pertaining to the appellant’s HUF and thus rendering the notice u/s 153C as invalid. Additionally, the A. O. had no jurisdiction to assess the appellant u/s 153C. 3. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and without prejudice to Ground No. 1 & 2 above, the A. O. has erred in making addition of Rs.10,80,000/- towards cash deposits in bank accounts without providing any details of the same. He has further erred in making addition of Rs.10,08,000/- though a. as per the A.O. himself actual cash deposits are Rs.4,50,000/- only. b. as per the appellant actual deposits are NIL. 4. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and without prejudice to Ground No. 1 & 2 above, the A. O. has erred in not appreciating the fact that these cash payments were out of the agricultural income of the appellant’s HUF and that the same were made for and on behalf of the said HUF. 5. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and without prejudice to Ground No. 1 & 2 above, the A. O. has erred in estimating the agricultural income of the appellant’s HUF incorrectly and holding that the same is not sufficient to justify cash deposits in the banks and investments in companies.” Brief Facts of the case : 2. The assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale is an Individual. Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale had not filed Original Return of IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 3 Income u/s.139(1) of the Act for AY 2010-11. There was a search u/s132 of the Act in the case of Sinhagad Technical Education Society and Maruti Navale group on 06/08/2013. Certain incriminating documents were found and seized during the search which were belonging to the Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale. Accordingly the Assessing Officer Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle 2(2) Pune recorded the satisfaction dated 13/01/2016 and issued notice u/s 153C in the name of Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale. The said notice was duly served on the assessee. The Assessing officer passed the order u/s 143(3) rws153C after giving opportunity to the assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale. Assessing Officer made addition of Rs.10,08,000/- for A.Y.2010-11, however, the actual figure should have been Rs.4,50,000/-. 2.1 The Assessing Officer(AO) rejected the Assessee’s claim on following grounds : i. All the transaction, investments in shares, bank loans, savings accounts, gift deed have been made in the individual capacity of assessee and not as a Karta of HUF. ii. No documentary evidences were produced in support of earning of agricultural income by HUF, except confirmation of Karta. HUF has never filed return of Income. IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 4 iii. Mere confirmation of Karta of HUF that investments are of his HUF and the same are made out of agricultural income (i.e. exempt under the income tax Act, 1961) of his HUF is not sufficient and corroborative evidence of income earned by HUF and investment made by HUF out of that income. iv. In respect of claim of assessee that, sale of gold jewellery of HUF to Ms Apte Jewellers, Solapur, the partners of said jewellers in their statement U/s 131 have themselves accepted that no such sale were taken place and those were accommodation entries. v. In addition to above, as can be seen from details of investment in shares, all the investment in shares of three companies were ultimately transferred to Shri. Maruti Nivrutti Navale by way of Gift Deed i.e. without consideration. vi. Interestingly, all the following brothers of Mr. Maruti Nivrutti Navale had furnished similar submissions and all of them have transferred all the shares to him by executing Gift Deed: a. Mr. Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale b. Mr. Vithoba Nivrutti Navale c. Mr. Mahadev Nivrutti Navale vii. Till the aforesaid assessment years, neither the aforesaid individual assessee’s nor the respective brother’s HUF had invested in shares / other assets or deposited that much amount of cash in banks. viii. Thus, there is only one possibility that the claim of agricultural income to have supported all these investments/cash deposits/jewellery acquisitions, etc is merely a façade for the consumption of Income Tax Department. In reality, it appears, all this money has come from Shri. Maruti Nivrutti Navale himself, which is the money he has siphoned off from Sinhagad Technical Education Society, where it is generated through capitation fees collection. IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 5 ix. The Assessing Officer has produced a Chart of Cash Deposits either in bank or for share application money made by these family members as under : Name 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Total Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale 4,50,000 10,08,000 1,03,13,000 1,88,65,000 1,70,000 3,08,06,000 Ashok Sadashiv Navale -- 1,45,000 36,37,600 1,25,52,000 1,00,000 1,64,34,600 Sanjay Sadashiv Navale -- 4,15,000 22,61,200 28,20,000 20,000 55,16,200 Prasanth VithobaNavale -- -- -- 5,78,000 -- 5,78,000 Total 4,50,000 15,68,000 1,62,11,800 3,48,15,000 2,90,000 5,33,34,800 Thus, according to the Assessing Officer, there is massive cash deposit of Rs.5,33,34,800/- by the Group. 2.2 The details of cash credited by assessee Sadashiv Navale for various years as per page 8 of the assessee’s paper book, which is part of seized document is as under : 2.3 Aggrieved by the order of the AO the assessee filed an appeal before the Ld.CIT(A). The Ld.CIT(A) confirmed the Assessment IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 6 Order. Aggrieved by the order of the Ld.CIT(A), the assessee filed this appeal. Submission of Ld.AR : 3. The Ld.AR submitted that the satisfaction recorded by the AO is defective and hence the notice u/s.153C is bad in law. The Ld.AR made following written submission: “1. Section 153C of the Act relates to assessment of income of any other person. With effect from the 1st day of June, 2015 Section 153C has been amended and provides that where the Assessing Officer is satisfied that, (a) any money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or thing, seized or requisitioned, belongs to: or (b) any books of account or documents, seized or requisitioned, pertains or pertain to, or any information contained therein, relates to, a person other than the person referred to in section 153A, then, the books of account or documents or assets, seized or requisitioned, shall be handed over to the Assessing Officer having jurisdiction over such other person and that Assessing Officer shall proceed against each such other person and issue notice and assess or reassess the income of the other person in accordance with the provisions of section 153A, if that Assessing Officer is satisfied that the books of account or documents or assets, seized or requisitioned, have a bearing on the determination of the total income of such other person for the relevant assessment year or years referred to in sub-section (1) of section 153A. 2. The earlier provisions contained in sub-section (1) of the said Section 153C provide that notwithstanding anything contained in section 139, section 147, section 148, section 149, section 151 and section 153, where the Assessing Officer is satisfied that any money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or thing or books of account or documents seized or requisitioned belong to any person, other than the person referred to in Section 153A, then the books of account or documents or assets seized or requisitioned shall be handed over to the Assessing Officer having jurisdiction over such other person and that Assessing Officer shall proceed against each IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 7 such other person and issue such other person notice and assess or reassess income of such other person in accordance with the provisions of Section 153A. 3. It is pertinent to mention here that the said amendment is prospective and is applicable for the searches conducted after 01.06.2015 and as such the old provisions of "belongs to or belong to a person" shall prevail in case of search made before 01.06.2015. 4. Now, in the course of search, the dept, seized mainly the cheque deposit slip and memorandum of confirmation of gift. On the basis of the said material found in the course of search, the learned AO has issued notice U/Sec.l53C of the Act to the appellant. The copy of the satisfaction note is enclosed at Page No.5 to 6 of Paper Book No.1. The learned AO has referred to 2 Bundles namely. In the satisfaction note, the learned AO states that these documents pertain to the Shri. Sadashiv Navale and also stated that from the verification of these documents, it reveals that Shri. Sadashiv Navale has certain undisclosed income for AY 2008-09 to 2012-13 and therefore, the notice U/Sec.l53C of the Act is being issued. The copies of the papers seized which are referred in the satisfaction note are enclosed at Page No.7 to 13 of Paper Book No.l. All these papers are basically the cheque deposit slip and memorandum of confirmation of gift. The appellant submits that these documents are not incriminating evidences in order to issue notice U/Sec.l53C of the Act. 5. It is submitted that for issue of notice U/Sec.l53C of the Act, they should be incriminating evidences belonging to the appellant seized in the course of search on a third person. Merely because a document is found but which is not incriminating, no notice U/Sec. 153C of the Act can be issued. In the present case, the documents seized which are being referred in the satisfaction note are not incriminating documents. The cheque deposit slip and memorandum of confirmation of gift cannot be considered as incriminating. In fact, all these documents are available in government record and are duly recorded in the books of accounts and therefore, such documents cannot be treated as incriminating evidence to justify the issue of notice U/Sec. 153C of the Act. Accordingly, it is submitted that no incriminating evidence was found as a result of search relating to the appellant. IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 8 ....................... 8. Further, in the case of the appellant, the search action U/Sec.132 of the Act has been carried out on 06.08.2013 and therefore provisions of Section 153C of the Act stating "belongs to or belong to a person" shall prevail and the AO in the satisfaction note has categorically stated that “the incriminating documents found and seized during the course of search at the office premises of Sinhagad Technical Education Society pertains to Sadashiv Navale”. Accordingly, it is submitted that the notice issued U/Sec.l53C of the Act is bad in law and void ab initio. 9. Without prejudice to above, it is further submitted that the notice issued U/Sec. 153C of the Act and the assessment order passed on the basis of said notice is bad in law as no incriminating document has been found during the course of search U/Sec. 132 of the Act at the premises of Sinhagad Technical Education Society which belongs to the appellant which indicate the undisclosed income. ....................... 11. In support of this contention, we wish to rely upon following decisions: a. PCIT Vs. Dreamcity Buildwell Pvt. Ltd. [2019] 110 taxmann.com 28 (Delhi) b. CIT vs. Renu Construction (P) Ltd. [2018] 99 taxmann.com 426 (Delhi) c. CIT vs. Arpit Land Pvt. Ltd. [2017] (Bombay HC) d. CIT v. Sinhagad Techinical Education Society [2017] Civil Appeal No.11080 of 2017 (Supreme Court) e. DCIT vs. Late Shri Pravinsinh N Zala [2020] (ITAT Ranchi Bench) f. Pradeep Sharma vs. ACIT [2021] (ITAT Indore Bench) g. CIT v. RRJ Securities Ltd [2017] 79 taxmann.com 115 (SC) (Supreme Court) h. PepsiCo India Holdings (P.) Ltd. vs. ACIT [2014] 50 taxmann.com 299 i. Kamlesh Bhai Dharamshi Bhai Patel v. CIT [2013] 214 Taxman 558 j. PCIT (Central) - 2 v. Index Securities (P.) Ltd. [2017] 86 taxmann.com 84 (Delhi) IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 9 k. Tanvir Collections (P.) Ltd. v. ACIT [2015] 54 taxmann.com 379 (Delhi - Trib.) l. ARN Infrastructure Ltd. V. ACIT [2017] 81 taxmann.com 260 m. Natural Products Bio Tech Ltd. v. DCIT [2015] 53 taxmann.com 400 (Delhi - Trib.) 3.1 The ld.AR filed factual paper book. Ld.AR reiterated the submission made before the AO & ld.CIT(A) regarding addition. Submission of Ld.DR : 4. Ld.DR relied on the orders of the AO and ld.CIT(A). The Ld.DR submitted that there was incriminating material as mentioned in the satisfaction note of the AO. The AO of the assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale and the searched Person is same as the cases of the entire Navale group were centralized with one AO. The Ld.DR read out the satisfaction note which is at page number 5-6 of the Assessee’s Paper Book and pleaded that there was incriminating material. AO has rightly invoked jurisdiction u/s153C of the Act. 4.1 Ld.DR submitted that the modus operandi in this group is simple. The cash generated by Sinhgad Technical Education has been deposited in various accounts like Bank account of Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale, Prashant navale, Sanjay Navale, Santosh Navale, etc. These individuals then purchased the shares IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 10 of the Companies Neemco Spinners Ltd, Neemco Investments and Finance Ltd etc. All these individuals have subsequently made Gift deeds and donated these investments to Shri Maruti Navale, who is the person behind the Sinhagad Technical Educational Society. Thus, ultimately, the cash collected by the Educational Institutes of Mr.Maruti Navale were rotated through these family members and then returned to Mr.Maruti Navale in the form of Investments. All these Family members have tried to explain the source of Cash as Agricultural income of HUF but none has filed any documentary evidence for the cash generated from Agricultural activities. The Ld.DR further pleaded that if we apply the law of Human Probability, it is highly improbable that all the family members have shown cash Deposits in their respective Bank Accounts and ultimately, they have made Gift deeds in favour of Mr.Maruti Navale. Findings and Analysis : 5. We have heard both the parties and perused the records. We will discuss and decide each ground hereonwards. All these cases were heard together with the consent of Ld.AR and Ld.DR as common issues are involved and facts are identical. IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 11 5.1 We will take IT(SS)A No.31/Pun/2019 for AY 2010-11 as lead case. 5.2 It is an admitted fact that there was a search u/s 132 of the Act in the case of Sinhagad Technical Education Society and Maruthi Navale Group on 06/08/2013. 5.3 The Assessing Officer, Dy. Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle-2(2), Pune recorded following satisfaction in the case of the Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale before issuing notice u/s 153C of the Act. Quote, “During the course of search action at the Office premise of M/s Jaishreeram Sugar and Agro Products Ltd, M/s NEEMCO Spineers Ltd., M/s NEEMCO Investment and Finance Ltd (Formerly M. N. Navale Investment and Finance Ltd), 10/12, St. Crispins Home, Karve Road, Pune-411004 certain .incriminating documents were seized / impounded. After examination of these seized documents it is noticed that these documents pertains to Shri. Sadashiv Nivruti Navale such as Page No. 38 of Bundle No. 2, Page No. 67 to 71Bundle No.9. The case of Shri. Sadashiv Nivruti Navale has been centralized to this office vide CIT-IV, Pune’s centralization order NO/N/CIT- IV/TECH/Centralisation/Sinhagad Grp/2013-14Ab6x) dated 27/02/2014. From the verification of these seized documents itreveals that Shri. Sadashiv Nivruti Navale has certain undisclosed income for A.Y. 2008-09 to 2012-13. In view of the facts mentioned above and after careful perusal of seized documents I am satisfied that the seized document has bearing undisclosed income of the assessee. Verification of the seized documents revels large cash deposits and gifts given by Shri.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale.......” Unquote. IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 12 5.4 The Dy. Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle 2(2), has observed that verification of seized documents revealed that large cash deposits were made by Sadashiv Navale and Gifts given by Sadashiv Navale. It is also a fact that the Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale had never filed Return of Income u/s 139(1) of the Act within the due dates mentioned in the section for AY 2010-11. Thus, from the plain reading of the Satisfaction Note, it is observed that Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale had deposited Large cash and he had also given Gifts. Since, the assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale had never filed return of Income for AY2010-11 within the time mentioned u/s 139 of the Act, the transactions of cash Deposits, Gifts were never disclosed to the Income tax Department by the Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale. Therefore, the seized documents referred by the AO, such as Bundle Number 2, page number 38, Bundle Number 9, page number 67 to 71, disclosing the transactions of cash Deposits by Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale and Gifts by Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale are incriminating documents as these transactions have never been disclosed by Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale to the Income tax Department prior to the Search. Therefore, the Assessee’s claim that there were no incriminating documents is misplaced. IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 13 Assessee also claimed that the impugned documents were in the knowledge of Government Authorities is also baseless as these documents were never brought to the notice of the Income tax Department by Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale. 5.5 The second plea taken by the Ld.AR is that the Search took place prior to 01/06/2015 i.e. the Date of amendment to Section 153C. Therefore, the un-amended provisions of Section 153C will be applicable in the case of the Assessee. The Section 153C prior to the amendment was as under : “153-C. Assessment of income of any other person.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 139, section 147, section 148, section 149, section 151 and Section 153, where the Assessing Officer is satisfied that any money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or thing or books of account or documents seized or requisitioned belongs or belong to a person other than the person referred to in section 153-A, then, the books of account or documents or assets seized or requisitioned shall be handed over to the Assessing Officer having jurisdiction over such other person and that Assessing Officer shall proceed against each other person and issue such other person notice and assess or reassess income of such other person in accordance with the provisions of section 153A” (emphasis supplied) IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 14 5.6 Thus, prior to the Amendment to Section 153C, the requirement of Section 153C was that the documents, money, bullion shall belong to a person other than the Searched person. 5.7 However, the Section 153C was amended in 2015 w.e.f. 01.06.2015 which replaced the word ‘belongs to’ by ‘pertain to’ 5.7 The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of ITO Vs. Vikram Sujit Kumar Bhatia 453 ITR 417 dated 6th April 2023 has held as under : Quote, “Therefore, it is observed and held that the amendment brought to section 153C of the Act, 1961 vide Finance Act, 2015 shall be applicable to searches conducted under section 132 of the Act, 1961 before 1-6-2015 ” Unquote. 5.6 Thus, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that the amendment to Section 153C replacing the words “belongs to” by ‘pertains to’ is applicable to searches made prior to the date of amendment also. 5.7 The Assessing officer has used the word, ‘pertains to’ in the satisfaction note. Respectfully following the law as explained by the Hon’ble Supreme Court (supra), it is held that the satisfaction IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 15 recorded by the AO is as per the law and hence the notice u/s153C is valid as per the law. 5.8 The Ld.AR has relied on various case laws mentioned in his written submission, however, after the recent judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Vikram Bhatia(supra), all those case laws are not applicable to the present case. 5.9 Therefore, the Additional Ground and Ground Number 1 of the Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivruti Navale are dismissed. Ground Number 2 & 4 of Assessee: 6. Vide this ground the Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale has made the plea that cash deposits in Bank and Investments were made out of Agricultural income of his HUF and not by the assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale. 6.1 The Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale is an Individual, his Bank account is in his name. Cash deposited for various years is as under as per Page number 8 of the Assessee’s paper book : IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 16 6.2 During the year Cash of Rs.77,03,004 /- was deposited in the Bank Account ,including loan account of the Assessee by the Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale. The impugned Cash Deposits were in the Bank Account which was in the name of the Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale. During the Assessment proceedings the Assessee had not filed any evidence to prove the contention that the amount was out of Agricultural Income of the (HUF). Even before us the assessee has not filed any documentary evidence to prove his pleading. He has merely relied on the oral averments. In this fact and circumstances, it cannot be believed that the Cash Deposits were sourced from the Agricultural Income of the (HUF). There is no reason why the (HUF) does not have a Bank account. We are not concerned with the fact whether the (HUF) had sufficient cash at that point or not, we are concerned IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 17 with the fact that the Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivrutti Navalehad failed to file documentary evidence to prove that the Cash deposits were sourced from the (HUF). For the purpose of Income tax Act, the (HUF) and Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale are different distinct entities. 6.3 The Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the case of Shashi Garg Vs. Pr.CIT has on identical facts held as under,: Quote, “ 9.Burden to explain the source of cash deposit was on the appellant-assessee, who as per the finding has not been able to discharge this burden. The evidence on record is undisputed, and the inference and factual findings recorded we would observe are supported by cogent and weighty reasoning. Explanation of the appellant-assessee has been duly considered and not ignored. Implausible and lame justification for making cash withdrawals has exposed and dented the concocted explanation regarding source of the cash deposit. Factual findings are based on cumulative effect of all facts covering all essential points. We would not interfere with factual findings unless they are irrational and absurd, which no person acting judicially and properly instructed in the field of law of taxation would have passed.” Unquote. 6.4 The SLP of the assessee has been dismissed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court [2020] 113 taxmann.com 93 (SC). IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 18 6.5 Thus, the Hon’ble High Court has categorically explained that the Burden to prove the source of cash deposits is on the assessee. In this case the assessee failed to prove the same. Therefore, in the absence of the Documentary evidence, the claim of the assessee that the Cash Deposits were sourced from the Navale (HUF) is rejected. 6.6 Similarly, the assessee has claimed that the investments in shares was sourced from the income of (HUF), however, assessee has not filed any documentary evidence. Hence, the claim of the assessee is rejected. It is an admitted position that the Shares were in the name of the Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale. 6.7 Therefore, the Ground Number 2, 4 of the Assessee Mr.Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale are rejected. 7. We find support from the order of ITAT Pune in the case of one of the member of this family Mr. Sukhdeo Navale in IT(SS)A No.30/PUN/2019 which has been decided by ITAT Pune against the assessee Sukhdeo Navale. The pleadings and grounds of appeal were absolutely identical in the case of Sukhdeo Navale and Assessee Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale. The relevant part of the said order is reproduced here as under : IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 19 Quote, “We have considered the submissions placed on record by the parties herein, analysed the facts and circumstances in this case. The assessee is the karta of HUF. It was noticed during the assessment proceedings by the ld. A.O that the assessee had undertaken various investments in shares, sold gold jewellery and deposited large amount of cash in the bank account. It was claimed by the assessee that the source of income for all these transactions were the income of HUF and not his individual income. The HUF had earned agricultural income and from this income transactions were completed. However, the assessee miserably failed before the revenue authorities and even before this Bench to substantiate the source of income of HUF through corroborative evidences except the declaration of the karta i.e. assessee, that these transactions were of the HUF. In absence of any corroborative evidences, the department had made the addition in the hands of the assessee. The assessee has neither furnished any evidence of agricultural income, nor the assessee has given a copy of income-return of the HUF where these transactions could be located for the purpose of tax, no explanations were furnished by the assessee as to why the bank accounts were in individual name when the claim is that these deposits are of HUF. There has been no supporting evidences also filed by the assessee neither before the department nor before this Bench to justify that the transactions, bank deposits were of the HUF. Accordingly, it was found that for this year, there was a cash deposit of Rs. 13,00,000/- and that was added to the total income of the assessee by the ld. A.O u/s 68 of the Act. Section 68 of the Act reads as follows: IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 20 “68. Where any sum is found credited in the books of an assessee maintained for any previous year, and the assessee offers no explanation about the nature and source thereof or the explanation offered by him is not, in the opinion of the A.O satisfactory, the sum so credited may be charged to income tax as the income of the assessee of that previous year.” 8. With regard to this provision, the ld. Counsel for the assessee submitted that it is not applicable to the case of the assessee, because the assessee is not maintaining any books of accounts and the very fact that the provision opens with the words “where any sum is found credited in the books of an assessee maintained for any previous year” makes it clear that the applicability of the provision of section 68 of the Act is only in a case where the books of accounts were maintained. However, we find that the correct applicability of provision and the addition made in this case has been done by the ld. CIT(A) where section 69A of the Act has been invoked and the additions were confirmed. Section 69A of the Act reads as follows: “69A: Where in any financial year the assessee is found to be the owner of any money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable, article and such money, bullion, jewellery or valuable article is not recorded in the books of accounts, if any, maintained by him for any source of income, and the assessee offers no explanation about the nature and source of acquisition of the money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article, or the explanation offered by him is not, in the opinion of the A.O satisfactory, the money and the value of the bullion, jewellery or other valuable article may be deemed to be the income of the assessee for such financial year.” IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 21 9. That on perusal of this provision it encompasses a situation where the assessee is found to be the owner of any money etc. which are not recorded in the books of accounts, if any, maintained by him. Therefore, this provision is more wide in nature and focussing not on the maintenance of books of accounts by the assessee but on the fact that if any money, etc. of which the assessee is the owner and that he has not offered any explanation regarding the nature and source of acquisition of the said money, etc. and even if the assessee had offered explanation, if it is in the opinion of Assessing Officer is not satisfactory then such money, etc. may be deemed to be the income of the assessee for such financial year. Essentially the trigger point for applicability of this provision is not books of account, it may be there or it may not be there. But it is the fact that assessee is the owner of some money etc., the source of which is not explained by him or even if he has explained, as per the opinion of the A.O it is not satisfactory, then such income will be deemed income of the assessee. The Hon‟ble Kerala High Court in the case of P.P. Bhaskaran Vs. CIT (2017) 394 ITR 258 Ker) has held the said proposition. The Hon‟ble Delhi High Court in the case of Dineshkumar Jain Vs. Pr. CIT (2018) 407 ITR 65 (Del) has held the deposits made in bank account which was not substantiated by providing evidence by the assessee, the additions were leviable u/s 69A of the Act. Reverting to the facts of the present case, the assessee claimed the said money, deposits were that of HUF but neither before the revenue authorities nor before this Bench has the assessee been able to provide any corroborative evidences except the statement of karta that such money belongs to HUF. On the contrary, the monies were found deposited in the IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 22 bank account belonging to the assessee. Therefore, the ownership is explained and since the source was not substantiated it is a deemed income in the hands of the assessee. Whether he has maintained books of account or not is immaterial so far as applicability of section 69A of the Act is concerned. If the assessee claims that he is not the owner of the money found deposited in his account then he has to establish his claim. This has been held by the Hon'ble Madras High court in the case of CIT Vs. KTMS Mehmood (1997) 228 ITR 113 (Mad). In the mentioned case, when the assessee has failed to establish that he is not the owner of the amount found in his possession in a search conducted by the Officers of E.D. i.e. Enforcement Directorate such amount was liable to be treated as income of the assessee by virtue of provision of section 69A of the Act. Therefore, the assessee can only escape section 69A of the Act if he proves that he is not the owner of the said money etc. found in his possession but in the instant case before us, the assessee was not able to refute the facts on record nor he was able to establish that the HUF was the owner of the money deposited and that the assessee was not the owner of the said money found in the bank account. Therefore, applicability of section 69A does not depend on whether the assessee maintains books of account or not. Once the department unearthed that the assessee is the owner of money etc. for which he has not explained the source and even if he has explained that is not satisfactory as per the reasoning of the A.O. in such circumstances, the said money etc. will be the deemed income of the assessee. In this case, it was claimed that the cash deposits of Rs.13,00,000/- in the bank account was that of the HUF and not of the assessee as an individual. However, as already examined the assessee has not been able to establish the IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 23 source of the money and whether it belongs to the HUF. It was claimed that the HUF has done the deposits from the agricultural income. However, the assessee has also not proved this claim. There has been no corroboration of the statement given by the assessee as the karta of HUF that those deposits made in the bank for this relevant year pertains to the HUF. The bank account also was not in the name of the HUF. No income-tax return has also been filed by the HUF. Admittedly, the cash of Rs. 13,00,000/- was deposited in the bank account which is in the name of the assessee and therefore, he is the established owner of that money. The assessee has not explained the source of that money. Therefore, the additions have been correctly made in the hands of the assessee u/s 69A of the Act. Before us, the ld. Counsel for the assessee contended that no opportunity was given to the assessee by the ld.CIT(A) before changing the provision from section 68 to 69A of the Act. However, on going through the entire order of the ld. CIT(A) nothing comes out that such opportunity was not given since it was during the course of first appellate proceedings in which the assessee was present through his counsel and he was made aware that applicability of provision is section 69A of the Act. The ld. Counsel also relied on some case-laws which are on record. However, all of them are substantially different from the present facts in the assessee’s case. Here, the assessee who has been found to be the owner of cash being deposited in his account and he has not been able to substantiate the source of such cash through corroborative evidences and justified explanation. The revenue authorities have exhaustively verified the claim of the assessee and thereafter made the addition. Considering the totality of the facts and circumstances and upon analysing them hereinabove, we do not IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 24 find any infirmity with the findings of the ld.CIT(A) and the same is upheld. Grounds of appeal of the assessee are dismissed.”Unquote. 8. The assessee has raised a plea in Ground Number 3 that the details of cash deposits were not provided to the assessee. We do not agree with the plea taken by the assessee. The bank account is in the name of the assessee so he has access to all the information about his bank account. Similarly, the investments made in shares was in the name of the assessee hence assessee has full information of the investments made by him. Accordingly said plea is rejected. 8.1 In this case the AO had made addition u/s 68 but the Ld.CIT(A) had invoked section 69A of the Act for the cash deposits. 8.2 Ld.CIT(A)’s powers are coterminous with that of the Assessing Officer. Hon’ble SC has observed in the Case of CIT Vs. Kanpur Coal Syndicate 1965 AIR 325 as under : Quote, “The Appellate Assistant Commissioner has, therefore, plenary powers in disposing of an appeal. The scope of his power is coterminous with that of the Income- tax Officer. He can do what the Income-tax Officer can do and also direct him to do what he has failed to do.” Unquote. IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 25 8.3 We agree with the ld.CIT(A), for the elaborate reasons discussed in the order of the ITAT in the case of Sukhdeo Navale in IT(SS)A No.30/PUN/2019 (supra), we adopt the same reasoning. 9. Therefore, for all the reasons discussed, the Ground Numbers 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Assessee Sadashiv Navale are rejected. 10. The assessee has not filed any documents to prove that he had agricultural income. Assessee has not even filed copy of 7/12 extract to prove that Land is in his name .In the absence of the documents to prove the claim of agricultural Income, the claim of the assessee is rejected. 11. In the result appeal of the Assessee Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale in IT(SS)A No.31/PUN/2019 for AY 2010-11 is dismissed. IT(SS)A No.32/PUN/2019 for A.Y.2011-12 and IT(SS)A No.33/PUN /2019 for A.Y. 2012-13 : 12. The facts and ground of appeal are identical in the IT(SS)A No.32/PUN/2019 for A.Y.2011-12 and IT(SS)A No.33/PUN/2019 for A.Y.2012-13. Therefore, our findings in appeal number IT(SS)A No.31/PUN/2019 for A.Y. 2010-11 in the case of the IT(SS)A No’s.31 to 33/PUN/2019 Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale [A] 26 assessee Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale will apply mutatis mutandis to the Assessee Sadashiv Nivrutti Navale’s appeal IT(SS)A No.32/PUN/2019 for A.Y.2011-12 and IT(SS)A No.33/PUN/2019 for A.Y.2012-13.Accordingly both these appeals are dismissed. Order pronounced in the open Court on 25 th August, 2023. Sd/- Sd/- (S.S.GODARA) (DR. DIPAK P. RIPOTE) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER पुणे / Pune; ᳰदनांक / Dated : 25 th August, 2023/ SGR* आदेशकᳱᮧितिलिपअᮕेिषत / Copy of the Order forwarded to : 1. अपीलाथᱮ / The Appellant. 2. ᮧ᭜यथᱮ / The Respondent. 3. The CIT(A), concerned. 4. The Pr. CIT, Central, Pune. 5. िवभागीयᮧितिनिध, आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण, “बी” बᱶच, पुणे / DR, ITAT, “B” Bench, Pune. 6. गाडᭅफ़ाइल / Guard File. आदेशानुसार / BY ORDER, // TRUE COPY // Senior Private Secretary आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण, पुणे/ITAT, Pune.