Hello Vikas,
As I stated above, please read the above mentioned case of CIT vs Manjula J Shah where it is clearly stated that for determining the indexed cost of acquisition under Section 48, the assessee must be treated to have held the asset from the year the asset was first held by the previous owner and accordingly the CII for the year, the asset was first held by the previous owner would be considered for determining the indexed cost of acquisition.
Hence, the indexed cost of acquisition in case of gifted asset has to be computed with reference to the YEAR in which the previous owner first held the asset and not the YEAR in which the assessee became the owner of the asset.
So in above case, the YEAR in which previous owner first held the asset is 1986.
Hope this ends your and mine query.
Thanking you