VISHNU SONI,SHIVPURI V. ITO, ASHOKNAGAR

ITA 38/AGR/2025

AI Insights

Mr. Vishnu Soni appealed against the order of the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), which confirmed the addition of Rs. 58,98,125 as unexplained investment in immovable property acquired jointly with his wife, Smt. Radha Soni. The initial reassessment was triggered due to the non-filing of income tax returns by the assessee for the relevant assessment year, leading to an investigation into the sources of a significant property purchase. The Tribunal noted that a similar case involving Smt. Radha Soni had been set aside for re-examination of the sources, and thus, in the interest of justice, decided to remand Mr. Soni's case back to the AO for a thorough investigation.

• Counselvise Citation: [2025] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 669090 (ITAT-AGRA)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 24-06-2025
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: DB
• Assessment Year: 2014-2015
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: SAILENDERA SRIVASTAVA
• Assessee Lawyers: P.K. SEHGAL
• Keywords: Set aside; Reasonable cause; Reassessment proceedings; Unexplained investment; Principle of natural justice; Competent authority
• Section: 147; 148; 144; 56(2)(vii)(b); 69; 234B

Judgement Text

" IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL AGRA BENCH: AGRA BEFORE SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI MANISH AGARWAL, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA No.38/AGR/2025 (ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2014-15) Mr. Vishnu Soni Sadar Bazar, Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh-473551 PAN-AWLPS6188C Vs. Income Tax Officer, ITO, Ashok Nagar, Aayakar Bawan, Citiy Centre, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh-474001 (Appellant) (Respondent) Assessee by Shri P.K. Sehgal, Adv. Department by Shri Sailendera Srivastava, Sr. DR Date of Hearing 21/05/2025 Date of Pronouncement 24/06/2025 O R D E R PER MANISH AGARWAL, AM: This appeal is filed by the assessee against the order of the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC), Delhi [Ld. CIT(A) in short] in Appeal No. NFAC/2013-14/10072234 dated 18.11.2024 passed u/s 250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (‘the Act’ for short) arising out of the order passed u/s 147 r.w.s 144 dated 17.09.2021 for Asst. Year 2014-15. 2 ITA No.38/Agr/2025 Vishnu Soni vs. ITO 2. Brief facts of the case are that assessee is an individual and had not filed his return of income for the year under appeal. The AO had that assessee has purchased an immovable property jointly with wife Smt. Radha Soni for Rs.1,10,00,000/- during the previous year relevant to Assessment Year under appeal. Since, the assessee had not filed the return, to examine the source of investment, the case of the assessee was reopened by way of issue of notice u/s 148 of the Act on 26.06.2019 after getting prior approval from the competent authority. However, during the course of reassessment proceedings, no compliance was made, therefore, the Assessing Officer passed the reassessment order by making addition of Rs.58,98,125/- being 50% in amount of investment made in acquisition of the immovable property (including the stamp charges) and further made addition of Rs.1,87,500/- u/s 56(2)(vii)(b) of the Act being the difference between the sale consideration and the circle rate. Against such order, an appeal was filed before the Ld. CIT(A) who vide impugned order dated 18.11.2024 partly allowed the appeal of the assessee wherein the addition of Rs. 1,87,500/- made u/s 56(2)(vii)(b) was deleted and the addition of Rs. 58,98,125/- towards unexplained investment in acquisition of property stood confirmed. 3. Aggrieved by the said order, the assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal by taking the following grounds of appeal. “1. That as in the case of the Appellant no valid proceedings U/S 147/148 of the Act were initiated thus the Ld. CIT(A), NFAC ought to have quashed/annulled/vitiated the illegal, ab initio void and bad in law exparte assessment U/S 147 r.w.s. 144 read with section 144B of the Act dated 17-09-2021. 2. That the addition of Rs.58,98,125 U/S 69 of the Act was being erroneously made by the Ld. AO thus the Ld. CIT(A), NFAC has erred both in law and on facts in sustaining the 3 ITA No.38/Agr/2025 Vishnu Soni vs. ITO arbitrary and unjust addition of Rs:58,98,125 U/S 69 of the Act that too by making various uncalled for and unwarranted observations completely contrary to facts of the case of the Appellant. Such addition of Rs.58,98,125 is liable to be deleted. 3. That the source of the investment of Rs.58,98,125 (including stamp duty/expenses) made by the Appellant in purchase of his 50% share in the Immovable Property purchased jointly with his wife Mrs. Radha Soni (PAN: CUKPS7099K) being properly verifiable and explained with reference to his disclosed/declared bank account and cash flow chart, thus the Ld. CIT(A), NFAC ought to have deleted the unjust and unlawfully made addition of Rs.58,98,125 U/S 69 of the Act by the Ld. AO. In any view of the case of the Appellant such addition of Rs.58,95,125 be kindly deleted. 4. That the Authorized Representative engaged by the Appellant on whom the Appellant was totally dependent did not properly represent and defend the case of the Appellant before the Authorities Below particularly by not bringing true and correct fact of the case of the Appellant on surface and by not furnishing proper and complete documentary evidences in support of the source of investment of Rs.58,95,125 made by the Appellant in purchase of his 50% share in the Immovable Property purchased jointly with his wife Mrs. Radha Soni (PAN: CUKPS7099K), thus the Appellant was prevented by reasonable cause beyond his control to defend his case properly and judiciously and therefore in view of the principles of natural justice your Honour kindly set aside and restore back the case of the Appellant to Ld. AO for fresh/denovo assessment. 5. That as the Appellant, out of the total investment of Rs.55,00,000 (excluding stamp duty) made in purchase of his 50% share in the Immovable Property jointly purchased with his wife, had paid Rs.10,00,000 on 30-01-2013 relevant to A.Y.2013-14, thus the Authorities Below have erred both in law and on facts is upholding such addition that too by misapplying provisions of section 69 of the Act in the A.Y.2014-15, which is liable to be deleted. 6. That the Authorities Below have erred both in law by misapplying provisions laid down under section 115BBE and thereafter arbitrarily and unlawfully charging increased tax rate of 60% and surcharge @ 25% thereon, in complete disregard to the settled law that such provisions are applicable only from 01-04-2017. 7. That the Ld. CIT(A), NFAC has erred in law and on facts in confirming the unjust action of Ld. AO in levying interest under section 234A, 234B and 234C of the Act. The Appellant craves leave to add, amend, alter, edit, delete, modify or change any or all other grounds of appeal at the time of or before the hearing of the Appeal.” 4. During the course of hearing, the Ld. AR of the assessee submitted that assessee along with his spouse Smt. Radha Soni purchased an immovable property and the necessary sources were duly explained before the Ld. CIT(A). It is further submitted by the Ld. AR that in the case of Smt. Radha Soni, the matter has already been set aside to the file of the Ld. AO for verification of the sources 4 ITA No.38/Agr/2025 Vishnu Soni vs. ITO and, therefore, in the interest of justice and to avoid multiplicity of proceedings, he requested that the appeal of the assessee may also be set aside to the file of the AO for necessary verification of the sources of investment in the hands of the assessee. 5. On the other hand, the Ld. Sr. DR vehemently supports the order of the lower authorities and submitted that despite of repeated opportunities by AO and Ld. CIT(A), assessee has failed to explain the sources and, therefore, additions made deserves to be upheld. 6. Heard both the parties. In the instant case, the Ld. AR of the assessee has made statement at bar that in the case of the wife of assessee, Smt. Radha Soni, the matter has been set aside to the file of the Ld. AO for examination of the source of investment in immovable property. Thus, in order to provide one more opportunities to the assessee to explain the sources and in the larger interest of justice, the case of the assessee is also send back to the file of the AO with the directions to examine the source in the hands of the assessee for making investment in acquisition of immovable property. The assessee is also directed to file all the necessary evidences before the AO and co-operate in the proceedings. With these directions, the appeal of the assessee is partly allowed for statistical purposes. 5 ITA No.38/Agr/2025 Vishnu Soni vs. ITO 7. In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes. Order pronounced in the open court on 24.06.2025. Sd/- Sd/- (SUNIL KUMAR SINGH) (MANISH AGARWAL) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER Dated: 24.06.2025 PK/Sr. Ps Copy forwarded to: 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT(Appeals) 5. DR: ITAT ASSISTANT REGISTRAR "