06 January 2012
ITA NO. 4183 & CO NO. 348/DEL/2010 A.Y. 2006-07 1 IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL DELHI BENCH “C” NEW DELHI BEFORE SHRI C.L. SETHI, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI SHAMIM YAHYA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER I.T.A. No. 4183/Del/2010 A.Y. : 2006-07 Income Tax Officer, Ward –20(3), New Delhi vs. Sh. Hari Shankar, A-309, 1st floor, Derawal Nagar, Delhi & A-1, CC Colony, Delhi (PAN: AKQPP7101B) AND C.O. NO. 348/DEL/2010 (IN ITA NO. 4183/DEL/2010) A.Y. 2006-07 Sh. Hari Shankar, A-309, 1st floor, Derawal Nagar, Delhi & A-1, CC Colony, Delhi (PAN: AAACP0256C) (APPELLANTS) vs. Income Tax Officer, Ward –20(3), New Delhi (RESPONDENTS) ASSESSEE BY : SH. B.L. GUPTA, FCA DEPARTMENT BY : SMT. MONA MOHANTY, SR. D.R. ORDER PER SHAMIM YAHYA: AM This appeal by the revenue and cross objection by the assessee emanate out of order of Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) dated 23.6.2010 pertaining to assessment year 2006-07. ITA NO. 4183 & CO NO. 348/DEL/2010 A.Y. 2006-07 2 REVENUE’S APPEAL 2. The first issue raised is that Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) erred in deleting the addition of ` 11,42,000/- made by the Assessing Officer u/s. 68 of the IT Act as unexplained cash deposits. 3. Assessing Officer in this case noted that information had been received showing total cash deposits of ` 11,42,000/- made by the assessee with Standard Chartered Bank, New Delhi. Assessee was required to file cash flow statement alongwith details of expenses claimed with bills/ vouchers. Assessing Officer further noted that despite several adjournments, no details were filed. In the absence of any detail Assessing Officer noted that the cash deposits of ` 11.42 lacs made with Standard Chartered Bank remained unexplained and the same is treated as income from undisclosed sources. 4. Before the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) assessee submitted that assessee is engaged in the business of consultancy and liaisoning and he has filed return of income for A.Y. 2006-07 on 19.2.2007 declaring income of ` 1,17,250/- which were processed u/s 143(1). It was further submitted that Assessing Officer has noted that cash deposits of ` 11,42,000/- were made whereas cash deposits were actually ` 10,02,000/- and not ` 11,42,000/-. It was further submitted that source of cash deposits was withdrawal from the same bank account and the purpose of withdrawal was to show more turnover to the to the bank for issue for ATM/Platinum card as suggested by the bank. It was further submitted that bank account statement of Standard Chartered Bank from 1.4.2005 to 31.3.2006 alongwith the cash flow was filed with the Assessing Officer but the same were not considered by the Assessing Officer. Assessee further submit one ITA NO. 4183 & CO NO. 348/DEL/2010 A.Y. 2006-07 3 reason for withdrawal of cash of ` 13,93,500/- was to show more turnover to the bank for issue of ATM/Platinum card as suggested by the bank. Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) sent the cash flow and copy of bank statement and other evidences under rule 46A to the Assessing Officer for examination. Assessing Officer commented that no detail was provided during the course of proceedings. Considering the submissions the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) held as under:- “I have carefully considered the facts of the case, perused the assessment order, remand report, rejoinder and the materials placed before me by the appellant. The appellant is an individual who filed return declaring income of ` 1,17,250/-. Based on an information that the appellant had made cash deposits of ` 11,42,000/- assessment proceedings were initiated. During the course of assessment proceedings the appellant had shown non cooperative attitude and did not filed cash flow statement alongwith the details of expenses claimed with bills / vouchers. The Assessing Officer completed the assessment proceedings u/s 143(3) treating the cash deposits as income from undisclosed sources and another addition of ` 44,585/- on account unverified expenses. The appellant has contended that the he was denied sufficient opportunity of being heard and to furnish the requisite details. He has further asserted that on 27.11.2008 the day, on which the last opportunity was provided, he went to attend the proceedings but the Assessing Officer was not present. The appellant further contended that the action ITA NO. 4183 & CO NO. 348/DEL/2010 A.Y. 2006-07 4 of the Assessing Officer was against the natural justice and without providing further opportunity he passed the order on 08.12.2008. From the perusal of the assessment record and facts of the case, it is evident that enough opportunities were provided to the appellant and the contention of the appellant has no force. Even, if it is considered true that the Assessing Officer was on leave on 27.11.2008, the appellant could have attended the proceedings on the next working day. The contention of the appellant that he was not provided sufficient opportunities is therefore rejected. Concerning the cash deposits, the appellant has furnished cash flow statement, bank statements and details of commission received from M/s Thunder Bird Industries Pvt. Ltd. The appellant has contended that owing to the nature of his business and place of residence i.e. a village he had to make withdrawals from the bank and deposit the cash in the bank. The reasons given by the appellant are with cogent reasons. The additional evidences furnished by the appellant were sent to Assessing Officer under Rule 46A for verification / examination and comments. The Assessing Officer after making enquiries found that the appellant had in fact deposited cash amounting to ` 10,02,200/- and withdrawals of ` 13,93,500/-. This fact substantiate the contention of the appellant that he used to withdraw money from the bank using platinum card to purchaser the agricultural land and villagers asked for payments in cash, and whenever the deal did not ITA NO. 4183 & CO NO. 348/DEL/2010 A.Y. 2006-07 5 materialized he used to deposit the money in bank. The Assessing Officer has not brought out any adverse material on record to controvert the theory of the appellant. Further the appellant has furnished all the relevant documents and nothing adverse was noted. Since, the appellant has successfully explained the source and nature of the cash deposits, the addition made by the Assessing Officer fails the test of judicial scrutiny and is therefore deleted.” 5. Against this order the revenue is in appeal before us. 6. We have heard both the counsel and perused the records. As it has been admitted by the Assessing Officer that there are withdrawals of ` 13,93,500/- from the same bank account and deposits of ` 10,02,200/- in the same bank. This fact substantiated the contention of the assessee that he used to withdraw money from the bank using platinum card to purchase the agricultural land and villagers asked for payment in cash and whenever the deal did not materialize, he used to deposit the money in the bank. As noted by the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Assessing Officer has not brought out any adverse record to controvert the submissions of the assessee. Under the circumstances, we do not find any infirmity in the order of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and uphold the same. 7. The issue raised is that Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) erred in law and on facts in deleting the addition of ` 44,585/- made by the Assessing Officer on account of unverified expenses. ITA NO. 4183 & CO NO. 348/DEL/2010 A.Y. 2006-07 6 8. On this issue Assessing Officer noted that assessee has shown receipts from business of ` 2,95,550/- against which expenses of ` 1,78,340/- has also been claimed. Assessing Officer noted that as the assessee has not filed details of such expenses with bills / vouchers, therefore, ` 44,585/- being 25% of such expenses is being disallowed for want of verification. 9. Upon assessee’s appeal Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) noted that assessee has submitted the details and proof of expenses and the same were sent for examination to Assessing Officer. The Assessing Officer has not commented on this account. Hence, Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) held that in the absence of any contrary remarks /findings, the bills / vouchers are taken as genuine.; Therefore, he held that expenses claimed by the assessee were genuine and justified and the addition made on this account was not sustainable. 10. Against this order the revenue is in appeal before us. 11. We have heard both the counsel and perused the records. We find that Assessing Officer has made adhoc disallowance for the reasons that details of expenses with bills and vouchers were not produced before him. The same were produced before the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and the same were sent to the Assessing Officer. The Assessing Officer had not made any comment in this regard. Under the circumstances, the vouchers etc. are now available and Assessing Officer’s disallowance solely based on lack of evidence cannot be sustained. Hence, we do not find any infirmity in the order of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) on this ITA NO. 4183 & CO NO. 348/DEL/2010 A.Y. 2006-07 7 account and we affirm the same. In the result, revenue’s appeal is dismissed. ASSESSEE’S CROSS OBJECTION 12. Before us ld. counsel of the assessee submitted that he shall not be pressing the Cross Objection, as such the cross objection is dismissed as not pressed. 13. In the result, the appeal by the revenue and the cross objection by the assessee are dismissed. Order pronounced in the open court on 12/11/2010. Sd/- Sd/- [C.L. SETHI] [SHAMIM YAHYA] JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER Date 12/11/2010 SRB Copy forwarded to: - 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT (A) 5. DR, ITAT TRUE COPY By Order, Deputy Registrar, ITAT, Delhi Benches