INCOME TAX APPELLATE
TRIBUNAL – DELHI
PIONEER BUILDWELL (P)
LTD., NEW ... VS ASSESSEE
ITA NO.6070/Del/2013
IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL
DELHI BENCH "F", NEW DELHI
BEFORE SHRI N.K. SAINI, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER
AND
SHRI H.S. SIDHU, JUDICIAL MEMBER
I.T.A. No. 6070/DEL/2013
A.Y. : 2002-03
M/S PIONEER BUILDWELL (P)LTD.,
212, JAINA TOWER-I, DISTRICT CENTRE, JANAKPURI,
NEW DELHI - 110008 (PAN: AACCP3217F)(APPELLANT)
NEW DELHI - 110008 (PAN: AACCP3217F)(APPELLANT)
VS.
INCOME TAX OFFICER,
WARD 14(2), NEW DELHI (RESPONDENT)
Assessee by : Sh. Sanjeev Jain, CA
Department by : Sh. Vikram Sahay, Sr. DR
Date of Hearing : 28-05-2015
Date of Order : 29-05-2015
ORDER
PER H.S. SIDHU : JM Assessee has filed this Appeal against the
impugned order dated 01.8.2013 passed by the Ld. CIT(A)-XVII, New Delhi
relevant to assessment year 2002-03 on the following grounds:-
1. That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in upholding the order passed by
the AO u/s. 143(3)/147 of the Act even though the AO did not have valid
jurisdiction to do so.
2. That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in upholding the addition of Rs.
30,00,000/- made u/s. 68 of the Act by the AO on the allegation of unexplained
credits of share application money.
3. That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in holding that the assessee has
not been able to prove the identity or creditworthiness of the creditor and the
genuineness of the transaction.
4. That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in ignoring the remand report
submitted to her by the AO wherein the AO has clearly stated that the assessee
has produced the directors of the companies investing in the share application
of the assessee company and that those directors have confirmed the fact of having
made investment in assessee company and have also explained the mode and manner
of the investment made by them in the assessee company. That the Ld. CIT(A) has
further failed to appreciate that the AO has accepted in the remand report that
the source of investment made in the assesssee company have also been explained
by the share holders in their statements recorded on oath by the AO.
5. That the appellant craves the right to amend, append, delete
any or all grounds of appeal.
2. The brief facts of the case are that on receiving information
from Investigation Wing that assessee company has received accommodation
entries in the shape of share application money. AO issued a notice u/s. 148
dated 30.3.2009 to the assessee to file its return of income for the above
mentioned assessment year within 30 days from receipt of the notice. The notice
was sent by speed post and also through personal service at 212, Jaina Tower-I,
District Centre, Janak Puri, New Delhi. On 22.4.2009, Sh. Harmit Singh, CA of
the assessee company attended and filed acknowledgement of the return filed on
29.10.2002. Again letter and notice under section 143(2), 142(1) dated 9.7.2009
issued and requested the assesssee to file complete return of income, copy of
ITA NO.6070/Del/2013 balance sheet and Tax Audit Report and the case was fixed
for 16.7.2009. None attended on this date. Penalty show cause notice under
section 271(1)(b) was issued and fixed the case for 6.8.2009. Sh. Harmit Singh,
CA attended on this date and asked to give reason for reopening of assessment.
2.1 The assessee company was incorporated on 20.12.2001 to carry
on the business as owners, builders, colonizers developers etc. During the
course of assessment proceedings the Assessee's AR was asked to provide
complete details i.e. name and address of the parties from whom share
application money of Rs. 30 lakhs were taken during the financial year 2001-02
relevant to assessment year 2002-03. The case of the assessee was reopened on
the ground that the assessee during the financial year relevant to assessment
year 2002-03 has received share application money/ accommodation entries from
various persons. Asseessee's AR vide letter dated 27.11.2009 filed details i.e.
name and address of the persons from whom share application money was received.
AR of the assessee was asked to file details of four credit entries appearing
in its bank account with HDFC Bank. As on 30.11.2009 AR of the assessee company
was aksed to produce the said parties in person for cross verification and was
asked to produce copies of bank accounts of the persons from whom share
application money was received. But AR of the assessee failed to produce thoese
persons for cross verification and also bank accounts of them were not filed.
Under the circumstances, the AO completed the assessment u/s. 143(3) /147 of
the Act vide his order dated 16.12.2009 and added a sum of Rs. 30,00,000/- as
unexplained cash deposit u/s. 68 of the Act.
3. Against the order of the Ld. AO, assessee appealed before the
Ld. CIT(A), who vide impugned order dated 01.8.2013 has dismissed the appeal of
the assessee.
4. Aggrieved with the order of the Ld. CIT(A), Assessee is in
appeal before us.
5. Shri Sanjeev Jain, Ld. Counsel of the assessee stated that both
the Revenue authorities have wrongly made the addition in dispute under section
68 of the I.T. Act as unexplained credit of share application money in spite of
the fact that assessee has fully been proved the identity, creditworthiness of
the creditors and the genuineness of the transaction with the support of all
necessary documentary evidence before the authorities below. But the revenue
authorities has not properly appreciated the evidence filed by the assessee and
made the addition in dispute. Ld. Counsel of the assessee further stated that
as required by the AO, the Assessee has produced the Directors of the Companies
in dispute who has invested the share application money in the assessee company
and those Directors have confirmed the facts of having made the investment in assessee
company and have also explained the mode and manner of the investment made by
them in the assessee company by appearing before the AO. But these facts have
not been appreciated by the authorities below and they have wrongly made the
addition in dispute in the case of the assessee. Lastly, he stated that the
issue in dispute is similar to the issue involved in the case of ITO vs. Neel
Kanth Finbuild Ltd. in ITA No. 2821/Del/2009 (A.Y. 2006-07) in which the
Coordinate 'E' Bench, ITAT, New Delhi vide order dated 1.4.2015 has decided the
issue in favour of the assessee by citing various decisions rendered by the
Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and the Hon'ble High Courts. He has also filed
the copy of this order alongwith the Paper Book. He requested ITA NO.6070/Del/2013
that the aforesaid decision of the Coordinate Bench in the case of ITO vs. Neel
Kanth Finbuild Ltd (Supra) may be followed and the appeal of the assessee may
be allowed on the same terms by deleting the addition in dispute.
6. Ld. DR also raised preliminary objection that the assessee
while filing the appeal before the ld. CIT()A in the Statutory Form No. 35 has
not given the Statement of Facts. He contended that Form No. 35 is statutory
Form and not giving Statement of Facts before the Ld. CIT()A in the prescribed
form makes the order defective and consequently, the order passed by the Ld.
CIT(A) is bad in law. To reply this objection by the Ld. DR, Ld. Counsel of the
assessee filed the copy of the order dated 19.2.2015 passed by the ITAT, Delhi
'G' Bench, New Delhi in ITA No. 4674/Del/2014 A.Y. 2009-10 in the case of SVP
Builders (India) Ltd. vs. DCIT. He stated that the objection raised by the Ld.
DR has already been answered in favor of the assessee in the said order and
therefore, he requested that the action of the Revenue is devoid on merits and
hence may be dismissed.
7. Ld. DR relied upon the order passed by the Ld. First Appellate
Authority. He further stated that assessee was not able to prove the identity
of the persons, the creditworthiness, genuineness of transaction in dispute. He
further stated that the Revenue Authority has perused the return of income
filed by Shree Gupteshwar Marketing (P) Ltd, D.K. Ispat and Timber Ltd. and
Kuberco Sales (P) Ltd. and found that the return filed by them are on a very
meager side which established that these parties have not established their
creditworthiness and genuineness of transactions in dispute, therefore, the
Revenue Authority rightly made the addition in dispute, which may be upheld by
dismissing the appeal filed by the assessee.
8. We have heard both the parties and perused the records
available with us on the preliminary objection and especially the order dated
19.2.2015 passed by the ITAT, Delhi 'G' Bench, New Delhi in ITA No.
4674/Del/2014 A.Y. 2009-10 in the case of SVP Builders (India) Ltd. vs. DCIT,
we are of the view that the objections raised by the Ld. DR has already been
adjudicated and answered in favor of the assessee by the ITAT in the aforesaid
case in which one of the Judicial Member was the party. The relevant para no.
15 of the aforesaid order is reproduced below:-
"15. Rival contentions heard. On a careful consideration of
the facts and circumstances of the case, a perusal of the papers on record and
the orders of the authorities below, as well as case laws cited, we hold as
follows:-
The first objection of the Ld. DR is that the statement of facts
have not been filed by the assessee, in Form No. 35, filed before the CIT(A).
the CIT(A) has not treated the forms filed before him as defective. He admitted
the appeal and adjudicated the matter on merits. The order of the Ld. CIT(A),
is the impugned order appealed against before us. The Ld. DR wants us to hold
that the order of the Ld. CIT(A) is illegal and against the law as there is a
defect in Form No. · In our view the arguments raised by the Ld. DR are devoid
on merit. Defects in the return of income filed, defects on Form No. 35 which
is the form of appeal etc. are to be considered by the respective authorities
before whom these are filed and the maintainability of the appeal before
us cannot be challenged. The right of appeal is a substantive right. Procedural
issues cannot take away substantial rights of a person. This cannot be a ground
for the Revenue to challenge the order of the Ld. CIT(A), which is in this case
in favor of the Revenue. The arguments, to say the least are farfetched. Hence
we dismiss the same."
9. Keeping in view of the aforesaid order dated 19.2.2015 passed
by the ITAT, Delhi 'G' Bench, New Delhi in ITA No. 4674/Del/2014 A.Y. 2009-10
in the case of SVP Builders (India) Ltd. vs. DCIT, the objection raised by the
Ld. DR is devoid on merits and as such dismissed.
10. As regards the merits of the case, the assessee has raised 5
grounds of appeal. At the time of hearing, Ld. Counsel of the assessee made a
statement that he is not pressing the issue involved in ground no. 1 in which
the assessee has raised the issue of jurisdiction of the AO. Ld. DR has not
raised any objection. Keeping in view of the agreed position by both the
parties, the issue involved in Ground No. 1 regarding challenging the AO's
jurisdiction is dismissed as not pressed.
11. With regard to ground no. 2 to 4 are concerned, as stated by
the Ld. Counsel of the assessee that the issues in dispute are squarely covered
in favor of the assessee by the decision of the Coordinate Bench, 'E'
Bench, ITAT, New Delhi vide order dated 1.4.2015 passed in the case of ITO vs.
Neelkanth Finbuild Ltd. in ITA No. 2821/Del/2009 (A.Y. 2006-07).ITA
NO.6070/Del/2013
12. We have heard both the counsel and perused the records
available on record especially order dated 1.4.2015 of the Coordinate Bench,
'E' Bench, ITAT, New Delhi passed in the case of ITO vs. Neelkanth Finbuild
Ltd. in ITA No. 2821/Del/2009 (A.Y. 2006- 07), we find considerable cogency in
the assessee's counsel submission that the facts and circumstances of the case
are identical and similar to that the aforesaid case in the matter of ITO vs.
Neelkanth Finbuild Ltd. wherein, the Coordinate Bench has adjudicated the issue
in dispute as under:-
"4. We have heard both the parties perused the record
available with us specially orders passed by the revenue authority along with
the documentary evidence filed by the assessee. We are of the view that the
Assessing Officer during the course the assessment proceedings has made the
following observation in the assessment order on the issues in dispute.
"During the year under consideration, the assessee company
has increased its share capital by Rs.1,0,000/- having issued 11,00,000 equity
shares @ 20/- each. From the perusal of details furnished by the assessee
company, it was noticed that share application money of Rs. 15,00,000/- is
claimed to have been received from the following two persons:
Sl No. Name Amount Received
(Rs.) Cheque No.And
Date
Drawn on Bank
1. M/s Paras Infotech (P) Ltd. E-71, Amar Colony, Lajpat
Nagar, Delhi-24 5,00,000/- 000009 dated
25/13/2006 Kotak Mahindra Bank, Old Rajinder Nagar Delhi
2. Sh. V. K. Angami, R/o 21/2 Mile Dimapur, Asam
10,00000 Amount received in Cash
Share application money received from M/s Paras Infotech Pvt. Ltd.
Before proceeding further, it may be mentioned that the
Investigation Wing has carried our certain investigations into an accommodation
entry racket being run by some persons. It has been found that the said Mls
Paras Infotech Pvt Ltd. is also one of the "companies" floated by
these persons and is being used as for the purpose of arranging accommodation
entries. It has been found that this "company" is not carrying out
any actual business activity, It does not have creditworthiness nor does it
have any worthwhile sources of income, It is a corporate entity in name only.
The bank accounts existing in the names 0/ these persons arc being used as
conduits for the purpose of providing accommodation entries. A person/party who
provides such entry is known as Entry Operator and the person/party taking such
entry is called Beneficiary. An entry operator operates a number of accounts in
the same bank/branch or in different branches in the names of' companies,
firms, proprietary concerns and individuals. For the operation of these bank
accounts, filing income tax returns etc. persons are hired Except for two or
three persons who arc required to regularly visit bank and to do other spade
work like collection of cash etc., most of the other person involved are on
part time basis. The part time employees are called us and when required to
sign documents, cheque books etc. A person interested in introducing its
undisclosed money into his/her/it, business approaches the entry operator and
hands over the cash. along with commission and takes cheques DD/PO. The cash is
deposited by the entry operator in a bank account either in his own name or in
the name of relative/friends or other person hired him for the purposes of'
opening bank account. The other person, in whose name the account is opened.
only sign: the blank cheque -book and hands over the same to the main entry
operator The entry operator, in turn. Issues cheques/DD/POs in the name of the
Beneficiary either from the account in which the cash is deposited or after
multi-layering and further obscuring the trail by rotating it through other
account or accounts, which are used only as conduits and in ,which the funds
are transferred through clearing in two or more stages.
Thus, the beneficiary's unaccounted money sails through several
accounts before round-tripping back to it, only disguised in the form of share
application money, unsecured loan, gift etc. While most of the
concerns/individual have obtained PAN from the department and are filing
returns as well. what is shown in the return are not actual state of affairs.
During the course of the assessment proceedings, the assessee
company furnished a copy of the purported confirmation from the Director of the
said company, namely Sh. Mukesh Gupta. The said Sh. Mukesh Gupta S/o Sh. R. D
Gupta, RIo WZ-414, Naraina Village, Delhi, along with his associates, has given
sworn statements u/s 131 before the Addl. Director of Income Tax
(investigation), Unit-I, New Delhi. 1n the said statements they have admitted
that the "companies" and other such concerns owned/controlled/managed
by them are not carrying on any actual business activities. They have
categorically admitted that they are engaged in the activity of providing
accommodation entries, The deposits reflected in the bank accounts existing in
the ruimes of the "companies" controlled by them actually belong to
the persons approaching them for taking accommodation entries. These bank
accounts existing in their names have been used only as conduits for the
purpose of arranging accommodation entries for others in the garb of share
capital etc. as described above.
In view of the above facts, notice u /s 131 of the Act addressed
to the Principal Officer of M/s Paras Infotech Pvt Ltd (directed at the above
address) was issued requiring the director of the said "company" to
attend this office personally, along with its books of accounts, evidence in
support of its creditworthiness, the original share certificates issued by the
assessee company etc. However, the notice was received back undelivered with
postal remarks to the effect "no such company"
A perusal 0f the bank statement 0/ the said "company"
revealed that there was a cash deposit of Rs. 9,98,000/- in the account (A/c
No, 179 2000000192) on 25.03.2008, prior to the release of funds in favour of
the assessee by way of cheque dated 25.03. 2006.
The AR was confronted with the above facts from time to time
during the course of the assessment proceedings and was required to explain as
to why adverse inference ,may not be drawn regarding the genuineness of the
transaction and the capacity of the said "company". He was also asked
to produce the director of the company (Sh. Mukesh Gupta). The AR was also
provided copies 0f the following sworn statements 0f Sh. Mukesh Gupta and his
other associates given before the Additional Director of Income Tax
Investigation), Unit-I, New Delhi.
a) Statements dated 14.0 I. 2004 of Sh. Mukesh Gupta.
b) A joint letter/statement dated 11. 05. 2004 addressed to the
Addl. DIT (Investigation), Unit- 1, New Delhi by Sh. Mukesh Gupta, Sh. Rajan
Jassal and Sh. S. P. Singh.
In reply to the show-cause, the A R finished his reply vide
written submission dated 15. 12.2008. The substance of the reply is as under.
a) The assessee company has filed "confirmation ", copy
of the ITR etc. of the said company. It is company duly incorporated under the
Companies Act. The assessee company has discharged its onus by filing above
documents evidencing their identity and creditworthiness.
b) The statements given by the above persons are vague and general
in nature and the name of the said company does not figure in the
companies/concerns identified by them.
The assessee's contentions in support of the genuineness of the
transactions and the documents purporting to be confirmations etc of the above
share applicants have been considered, but have not been found to be sufficient
in view of the facts and circumstances of the case. The assessee's contention
is that the onus on it stands discharged in view of the above documents filed
by it in support of the identities of the share applicants. This rather
simplistic contention of the assessee has no legal basis. The Hon'ble High
Court of Delhi in the case of CIT v. Mls Himalaya International Ltd. (rendered
on 30.07.2007 in ITA 1509 of 2006) has clearly held that the onus is all the
assessee to establish the identity & creditworthiness of the
subscribers of shares as well as the genuineness of the transaction The
following observations made by the Hon'ble High Court in the case of CIT Vs.
Divine Leasing and Finance Ltd., General Exports and Credits Ltd., Lovely
Exports (P) Ltd (299 ITR 268) in para 2 I of the judgment, should lay to rest
any further lingering doubts on the import of the section 68 vis a vis the
question of share capital ITA NO.6070/Del/2013 " But we hasten to clarify
that the statement of law made by the ITA T to the effect that in case of share
capital no additions could be made if it is established that the shareholders
exist is no! completely correct, and has not been so enunciated by this Court
in Sophia Finance"
Before evaluating the credibility of the purported evidence sought
to be relied on by the assessee against the overwhelming circumstantial
evidence exposing the real nature of the transactions, the import and
ingredients of section 68 may be briefly discussed. If has been judicially
established that the primary onus is on the assessee to prove the identity
& creditworthiness of the party and the genuineness of transactions in
respect of cash credits in its books of account. The identity and
creditworthiness. in the context of the provisions of section 68, cannot be
seen as two separate elements but as two sides of the same coin. The PAN or
other assessment particular are at best, only peripheral documents as while
allotting PAN or processing the ret urns, the actual affairs are seldom
verified. The creditworthiness essentially means some financial standing in
one's own right backed by one "s inherent capacity to earn income or the
capacity of some profit-making apparatus available to one.
Further, the degree of onus contemplated/ls 68 depends on the
facts of each case and no standard degree of proof can be applied in all cases
irrespective of the nature of receipt. Whether the onus, in a particular case,
is stringent or light, would depend upon the facts of the case. For example,
where the amount it received from close relatives or friends by way of loan or
deposit or otherwise, the onus would be stringent or light, would depend upon
the facts of the case. For example, where the amount is received from close
relatives or friends by way of loan or deposit or otherwise, the onus would be
stringent since the assessee is supposed to know all the particulars. In case
where the share capital is received through public issue, the company is not supposed
too know about the source from which share applicant makes the investment.
Therefore, the onus would be light. However, where the shares are issued by a
private limited company, the onus would be stringent for the reason that the
public issue cannot be made by a private limited company and the capital is
received through private placement normally to known persons i.e. the relatives
and friends of directors. The degree of the onus would be even stringent when
the very credentials of the 'director' of an investor company "are suspect
because of the fact that he has admittedly been running on accommodation entry
racket through the medium of many "companies "floated by him. It is
now proposed to consider the purported evidence sought to be relied upon by the
assessee in the light of the facts and circumstances of the case.
(1) As discussed above, simply furnishing the PAN or assessment
particulars is not enough. The so-called evidence in the form of return of
income etc. Does not facilitate cross verification. While on the purported
"confirmation "filed on behalf of the investor "company",
its address is mentioned as Ë -71, Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar, Delhi", the
summons sent at the above address has been received back undelivered with
postal remarks "no such company". The acknowledgement of return etc.,
by themselves, are not sufficient to prove the true identity of a person or to
disclose a true address. This is not a case where some legal proceedings are
shown to have been made in the hands of the said "company" at the
said addresses and they are shown to have attended the proceedings. The
identity should be seen in perspective that the person has got to have some
standing in a particular line of ITA NO.6070/Del/2013 activity. Identity is defined
in the new shorter oxford dictionary as "The condition or fact of a person
or thing being that specified unique person or thing". The person has to
have some sign of identification other than merely on paper. These signs could
be the infrastructure of business, place of work, staff members, books of
accounts, substantive evidence of the business carried by the persons in the
form of tools and apparatus of business, inputs of the business, process
involved etc. Or anything which can prove that some actual activity is going
on. Having PAN or assessment particulars is merely a response to the
applications and returns filed. These types of identity are merely on paper.
(2) The person has neither been produced nor has any substantive
evidence produced in support to its actual affairs and creditworthiness that
could only be examined. given the/acts of the cc/se, if somebody on its behalf
is produced along with necessary evidence of the nature and details of their
activities on the ground, the sources of deposits and their books of accounts.
For accepting the identity and the availability of funds in their hands in its
own capacity, it is necessary to hove at least some idea, if not complete
details, of the actual "business" in which it is said to he engage As
mentioned above, there was cash deposit in the said bank account prior to the
release of funds in favour of the assessee. In fact, there are specific reasons
for not maintaining/ producing books of accounts and filing annexures showing
composition a/investments in such cases. For one, the amounts given as share
application money etc. are lost forever (as they are one time entries). Another
reason for not filing the schedule of investment and loans is that while the
amount shown in the balance sheet may be less the actual amounts may be more.
For example, if one crore has been actually routed through the bank accounts
the amount shown in the balance sheet may he just ten or twenty lakhs.
Providing rhe schedule of investments and assets makes it difficult for them to
give a confirmation to anyone whose name is not available in the schedule.
(3) (2) The assessee company is private limited company In
the case of such companies, there is close and proximate relationship between
the promoters/directors and the shareholders. The closely-held companies are
permitted to accept the subscriptions of share capital or deposits only from
the friends or relatives of the promoters/directors and such companies arc not
allowed to accept subscriptions or deposits from the general public. The shares
are, therefore, subscribed by a small number of persons who are known to the
promoters or are related to them by family members. As such, there should have
been no difficulty on the part of the assessee to produce the so- called
investor, had the whole apparatus not been merely a conduit to plough back tlie
unaccounted money of the assessee-company in the garb of share application
money. There is no reason why a genuine investor would evade inquiries into its
affairs. The investors are at least supposed to produce the original share
certificates. It is also hard to believe the assessee's contention that it has
had no contact with the so-called share- holder in the light of the fact that a
genuine contributor in the share capital would not abandon his investment ITA
NO.6070/Del/2013 4(3) Mere payment by account- payee cheque is not sacrosanct
nor can it make a non-genuine transaction genuine. As mentioned above. cash has
been deposited into the account just prior to the issue of the cheque.
Therefore, unless the creditworthiness of the "company" and the transactions
represented by the entries in the bank are correlated with the "business
activity" or their sources of income, the deposit of cash immediately
before the release of funds in l favour of the assessee only corroborates the
fact that the account has been used only for the purpose of providing
accommodation entries. The evidence afforded by the above facts is only
fortified by the aforesaid statements of Sh. Mukesh Gupta That the money has
come through banking channel per se does not make the transaction genuine when
there is presence of other factors present suggesting otherwise The nature of
deposits in its accounts cannot be explained except by the truth that these
amounts represent the money of the beneficiary routed through it. The
beneficiary has to have the money in its account through normal bonking channel
This is the sole reason/or arranging the entire transaction.
4) The assessee has further contended that the name of the said
"investor company " does not appear in the statements given by the
above persons. This argument does not carry any' force. That Sh. Mukesh Gupta
himself is "director" in the said "company" has not been
denied The said "company .. has clearly been identified in the
information/report received from the Wing as one of the entities belonging to
the group and through which accommodation entries are being provided Further,
the above statements by themselves are sufficient to impeach the credentials of
the said Sh. Mukesh Gupta. Apart from this tell-tale connection, the other
factors. namely. the pattern of the transactions, the deposit of cash in the
bank account immediately before the release of funds in favour of the assessee,
the non- furnishing of any evidence ill support of any actual business being
carried out by the said "company", the non-production of original
certificates by it, the fact of the notice having received back undelivered,
considered in their totality clearly establish that Mls Paras Infotec P Ltd. is
also one of the entities being used to arrange accommodation entries.
In the light of the above, the onus lay heavily on the assessee to
establish the genuineness of the transactions and the creditworthiness of the
alleged share applicants and the genuineness of the transactions. Considering
the totality of the circumstances, it is obvious that the
"transaction" was only a camouflage. The total amount of Rs.
5,00,000/- stated to have been received From the said .. investor company"
represents the assessee's own unaccounted money which has sought to be introduced
into its business in the garb of share application money. Thus, keeping in view
the totality of the facts. the amount of Rs. 5,00,000/- is added back to the
income of the assessee company u/s 68 of the IT Act. Share Capital of Rs.
10,00,0001- received from Sh. V.K. Angatnt ITA NO.6070/Del/2013 (4) As per the
details filed, the assessee has also received a sum of Rs. 10,00,000/- from Sh.
V K. Angami, R/o 21/2. Mile, Dimapur, Assam.The entire amount of Rs.
10,00,000/- has been received in cash. Notice u/s 133(6) was sent to Sh. Angami
on 06.09.2007, calling/or the the following:
(5) (a) Confirmed copy of account of the assessee in his books of
accounts for the year under consideration (6) (b) Source o.f investment in
share capital of the assessee company with copies of the hank statement. Copy
ofhis Balance Sheet/ Statement of Affairs as on 31. 03. 2006.
(c) His PAN and I T Particulars with copy of acknowledgement for I
T. Return for the A. y, 2006-07.
However. the notice was received back unserved The AR was informed
that the notice U/s 133(6) to SI? Angami has been received hock Further. no
evidence (IS to the identity & creditworthiness of said person was
furnished by the assessee company. the AR was asked to show cause as to why the
amount received from Sh. Angami be not treated as unexplained as the
genuineness of the transaction, and the identity & creditworthiness of
the share applicant remained unverified. 1n response to the show-cause. the A
R, vide his written submission dated J 5. 12.2008, stated as under:
"Regarding the share application money of Rs. 10, 00, 000/- received from
Sh V K, Angami, we are enclosing the following documents/details for your
consideration.
a) A copy of the certificate certifying Sh. Angami as a Schedule
Tribe in the state of Nagaland.
b) A copy of the election 1 Card of Sh. V. Khriuto Angami. The
aforesaid documents clearly establish the identity as well as the
creditworthiness of Sh. V K. Angami and he is capable to invest so much amount
of money Regarding PAN, the persons concerned is a scheduled tribe in the state
of Nagaland ( certificate in this regard is enclosed as above) and the income
so earned by him in the state of Nagaland is exempted income vide section
10(26) of the Income Tax Act.. " The A R, vide written submission dated
24.12.2008, also furnished on affidavit purportedly from Sh. VK. Angatni to the
effect that he has invested in the share capital of the assessee company and
that "the investment has been made out of the own source of fund and
payment made out of my cash balance"
The law with regard to the admissibility of an affidavit as an
evidence is 'well- settled The matter relating to evidence by affidavits is
governed by Order of the Code of Civil Procedure. Such evidence by affidavit
may be admitted only if the same fulfils the conditions precedent thereto. ln
terms of Order 19, Rule 1 of C. P. C, the court may at any stage permit a party
to adduce evidence by affidavit on assigning sufficient or cogent reasons. An
affidavits are not evidence since it is not included in the definition of
evidence in Section 3 of the Evidence Act and can be used as evidence only if
for sufficient reasons, the Court passes an order under Order 19 Rules 1,2 of
CP. C as observed by ITA NO.6070/Del/2013 Supreme Court in Sudha Devi V MP
Narain AIR 1988 (SC) 1381. (1988) 2 SC) 422. In view' of the same, furnishing
of an affidavit in itself and that too at a time when it was not even required
under any law of the land reflects that evidence was being created
artificially/ superfluously in anticipation of it being required in the course
of assessment proceedings.
Therefore. affidavit of alleged "investor" which has
been filed suo-mote is not even admissible evidence, specially when no evidence
in support of [he assertions mode therein is forthcoming.
The documents filed in the form of the schedule tribe certificate
and the voter card are just cord are just photocopies, which are not attested
by on)' competent authority. Further, the name os appearing in the said
certificate is " M Khrietuo S/o Vizokhol ,. and that appearing on the
voter cord is only "Khrieto S/o Vizukhol ", Neither the affidavit,
nor the written submission Filed by the assessee is accompanied by any evidence
whatsoever (or even description of the sources of income or the Sh. Angami) in
support of the creditworthiness of the "investor ". A bare assertion
that the amount has been invested out of "own source of fund" is not
sufficient. Therefore, the above documents. by themselves, do not in 0/1)'
II'([Y substantiate the creditworthiness of the said person and the genuineness
or the transaction. It is well settled that where moneys have been received ill
cosh or even Demand Drafts the standard of proof u/s68 of the ACI would be much
more rigorous and :stringent than where the transaction is by cheque where the
date and source of the investment cannot be manipulated. For example, the
availability of the same cash may well be used for "confirming"
similar transactions in multiple cases.
The pressing need for this payment having been made in cash by Sh.
Angami is highly suspect as there is no reason why the same was not routed
through normal banking channels, if at all the said amount was maintained in
any bank account. This assumes greater significance as it is highly improbable
that anybody would actually maintain a cash of Rs. J 0,00,000/-. The letter
addressed to Sh. Angami at the given address (21/2 Mile, Dimapur, Assam) has
been received back undelivered with postal remarks 'Address insufficient.
Addressee could not be traced out. This further suggests that the said Sh.
Angami, if he really existed at the given address or even thereabout. could not
have been a man of such financial standing as has been sought to be made out.
As per the documents filed, the entire creditworthiness is being sought to be
established merely on the basis of mere self-serving assertions which are not
supported by any evidence whatsoever, documentary or otherwise, in support of
his financial status and the immediate source of the said amount. Even in the
alleged "investor" has chosen to remain silent about the source of
this amount of Rs. 10,00,000/-. In view of the above, the identity &
creditworthiness of the alleged share applicant and the genuineness of the
transaction remain unsubstantiated. Therefore, this amount of Rs. 10,00, 000/-
is treated as unexplained and added to the income of the assessee u/s 68 of the
Act.
5. On the appeal filed by the assessee, Ld. First Appellate
Authority in the impugned order had adjudicated the issue in dispute the
findings of the Ld. CIT(A) is as under:-
"I have gone through the facts and circumstances of the case,
observation of the A.O. as contained in the Assessment Order, submissions of
the AR of the appellant and judicial pronouncements on this issue.
During the year under consideration, the appellant company had
increased its Share Capital by Rs. 1,I0,00,000/- by issuing 11,00,000 equity
shares of Rs. 10/-each from various parties. The Assessing Officer, in the
Assessment Order has added the Share Application Money received from 2 parties,
namely Mls Paras lnfotech Pvt. Ltd. (Rs. 5,00,000/-). Shri V.K. Angami (Rs.
10,00.000/-) as unexplained cash credit. in the hands of the appellant company.
The addition in respect of first company was made on the basis of information
received from the Investigation Wing of the Department and on the statement of
Shri Mukesh Gupia given before the officers of the Investigation Wing. whereas
the addition in respect of Sh. V. K. Angarni was made as the said payment was
received in cash and was not supported by any immediate source of the said
cash.
The Assessing Officer had issued summons to the principal officer
of the company uls 131 of the l.T. Act during the course 01' assessment
proceedings for producing the books of accounts and other evidences in support
of its creditworthiness I however, the said summons was received back with the
remarks 'no such company exists on the given address'. The AR or the appellant
company was asked to produce the director of the company and he' was also
provided copies of the statement given by Sh Mukcsh Gupta and his associates
before the Add!. Director of Income-tax (Investigation) Unit-I), New Delhi. The
appellant company to substantiate that the amount of share application money
received from the said party was genuine. provided supporting evidence vide its
letter dated 15.12.200~ to prove the identity and creditworthiness of the party
in the form of confirmation, Copy or ITR, certificate of Incorporation of the
said company. Copy of PAN Card. In respect of Sh. V.K Angani who is a resident
of 21/2.Mile Dirnapur, the appellant filed copy of certificate (certifying that
the Sh. V. K. Anagami is a Schedule Tribe in the State of Nagaland, copy of
Election Card and salary certificate of having received salary from M/s Numen
Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. as Director. The appellant further stated that Sh. Angami
had capacity to invest the money and income so earned by him is exempt u/s
10(26) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The appellant on 24.12.2008 ITA
NO.6070/Del/2013 also furnished an affidavit of Sh. V.1<.. Angami to the
effect that he has invested in the share capital of the appellant company and
the investment has been made out of his own source of funds and payment made
out of his cash balance.
Since the investors failed to appear before the AO in response to
summons issued u/s 131 of the IT Act, the AO disregarded the other evidences
produced and emphasized that identity and creditworthiness of the investors has
not been proved. He accordingly held that the amount of Rs.5,00,000/- from M/s
Paras Infotech Pvt. Ltd and Rs.IO,OO,OOO/- from Sh. V.K. Angami received by the
appellant as share application money from the said two parties cannot be
treated as genuine and is only an accommodation entry. On these observations,
the appellant relied upon the direction of Honble ITAT, Mumbai Bench in the
case of Kashuka Trading & Services Pvt. Ltd. Vs. ITO, ITA
NO.1145/Mum.l06 wherein it is held that mere non- compliance of summons and
notice, it cannot be held that the assessee has failed to discharge his burden
u/s 68.
On the same issue, the appellant has also relied upon the Hon'ble
Supreme Court judgement in the case of CIT Vs. Orissa Corporation 159 ITR 78
(SC) wherein it is held that in case the creditor does not appear in response
to summon issued u/s 131. no adverse inference can be drawn.
Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of CIT vs. Pradeep Gupta 207
CTR 115, which has also been relied upon by the Delhi IT A T in recent
judgement in the case 0 f Babita Gupta ITA No. 2897/06, wherein it is held that
in the facts of the case before us it may be seen that from the very beginning
Ld A. 0. had shifted entire burden Upon the assessee and no material was
brought by him to prove his allegation that the impugned amount represented
assessee company's undisclosed income. Therefore, on this ground alone the
entire addition deserves to be deleted and may kindly be held so.
In the Assessment Order, the AO has not given any details about
the enquiry conducted by him on the basis of which it was held that the said
parties were involved in the business of providing accommodation entry. The
Honble Delhi High Court in the case J.T. (India) Exports and another vs. UOI
and another (2003) 262 ITR 269 (Del-FB) has held that the Assessing Officer
must pass a speaking order giving reasons for the conclusions arrived at, and
opportunity of being heard must be provided to the assessee before passing any
adverse order. It has been further held that in the notice issued by the A.O.
specific requirement should be indicated and reasonable opportunity must be
granted. It was held by the Hon 'ble ITA NO.6070/Del/2013 Delhi High Court that
in absence of a notice of the kind and such reasonable opportunity, the order
passed against the person in absentia and becomes wholly vitiated.
The AO in the Assessment Order has simply relied upon the
information received from the Investigation Wing of the Department without
making any effort to verify the facts stated therein. It has also been held by
the various courts that AO must bring on record some positive material or
evidence to indicate that the share holders were benamidars. fictitious persons
or that any part or the share capital money represented the company's own
income from undisclosed sources. The appellant has cited various case laws in
the its submissions wherein it has been held that the Share Capital issued
cannot be treated as undisclosed income of the appellant and cannot be added
uls 68 of the Income Tax Act.
The appellant in its submissions relied upon by the case law of
CIT vs. Samir Biotech Pvt. Ltd. `ITA No415/I2008 of Delhi High Court, wherein
it is held that if subscribers are having bank accounts, issuing account payee
cheque, assessed to income- tax showing investment in the balance sheet,
balance sheet were audited by the statutory auditors, their credit
worthiness, identity and genuineness of the transactions are well established.
The appellant further stated that in the case of Paras Infotech Pvt. Ltd., it
has submitted the copy of the income-tax return, confirmations and
affidavit of the director of the company who has given share application money.
All these documents establish the identity and creditworthiness of Mls Paras
Infotech Pvt. Ltd.
With regard to Sh. V.K. Angami, the appellant submits that he has
filed affidavit of Sh. V.K. Angami confirming the transaction. copy of election
identity card, copy of tho Schedule Tribe Certificate and copy of the salary
certificate received from M/s Newman Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. for the salary paid
as Director. All these documents prove the identity and creditworthiness of the
investor. In support of this, the appellant has relied upon the case law of
Shri Barakha Synthetics Ltd. Vs. ACIT (2006) 155 Taxman 239 (Raj.) wherein it
has been held that once the receipt of the confirmation letter from the
creditor is proved and the identity and the existence of the investor has not
been disputed, no addition on account of share application money in the name
ofsuch investor can be made in the assessee's hands.
"In respect of the share application money received from
investors, the assessee company has only to prove that the existence of the
persons in whose name share application is received. No further burden is cast
upon the assessee to prove whether that person himself has invested the said
money or some other person made investment in his name."
ITA NO.6070/Del/2013 The appellant has also relied upon the
judgement of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT Vs. Lovely Export 299 ITR
268 (SC) which has confirmed the order or the Delhi High Court. It has been
held that once' the identify of the share holder have been established. even if
there is a case of bogus share capital, if cannot be added in the hands of the
company unless any adverse evidence is not record. In the instant case, the
appellant has provided confirmations from the said parties, as well as various
evidences to establish the genuineness or the transaction.
With regard to AO's observation in the Assessment Order that
before issue of cheque by Mls Paras Infotech Pvt. Ltd .. there was a cash
deposit in the said bank account. On these observations, the appellant has
relied upon the judgement of Nemichand Kothari Vs. CIT (2003) 264 ITR 254
(Gauh.) wherein it is held that it is a settled law that the burden of the
assessee is to prove the genuineness of the transaction as well as the
creditworthiness of the creditor must remain confined to the transactions which
have taken place between the assessee and the creditor. It is not the business
of the assessee to find out the source of the money of his creditors Similar
observations have been made in the cases 01' S. Hastimal 49 ITR 273(Mad) and
Daulatram Rawatmall (1973)87ITR 349(S C) wherein it is held that source of the
source can not be enquired from an assessee which unfortunately seems to be the
case in the instant case.
In a recent judgement dated 30.1.2009 Honble Delhi High Court in
the case of CIT vs. Gangour Investment Ltd. (ITA No. 34/2007) has held that
Revenue can make addition under section 68 of the Act only if the assessee is unable
to explain the credits appearing in its books of accounts. In the said case the
appellant has duly explained the said credit entries in the form of various
documentary evidence filed. The said documentary evidence contained details,
which set out not only the identity of the subscribers, but also gave
information, with respect to their address, as well as, PAN numbers, Assessment
particulars etc. Based on these facts, the Hon "ble Delhi Court dismissed
the appeal of revenue.
In yet another decision as to the correctness of treating share
application money on par with cash credit, the Hori'ble Delhi High Court in CIT
vs, Value Capital Services P. Ltd. (2008) 307 ITR 334 (Delhi) found after
referring to the two of the decisions of the Delhi High Court on the subject
that in respect of share capital amounts, they cannot be assessed in the hands
of the ITA NO.6070/Del/2013 company, unless the Department is able to show that
the amount received towards share capital actually emanated from the coffers of
the assessee company.
After going through various facts of the case and judicial
pronouncement on this issue, cited supra, it is seen that the appellant's case
is covered by the above judgments.
After going through the facts of the case and the judicial
pronouncements on this issue, I am of the opinion that the appellant has
discharged the initial onus of establishing the bona-fide of the transactions
and the AO was not justified in ignoring various evidences provided to him by
the appellant. It is seen that the Assessing Officer had not done any
investigation / enquiry, during the course of assessment proceedings. The
Assessment Order has been framed by the Assessing Officer only on the basis of
the information received from the Investigation Wing of the Department. without
making any further investigation. Nothing adverse has been brought on record by
the AO to establish that the Share Application Money received by the appellant.
represented its own undisclosed income.
Further, if there was doubt about the source of investment or the
said investors, then additions should have been made in the case of those
parties and not in the hands of the appellant company.
The appellant has relied upon the decision of Hon'ble Supreme
Court in CIT' vs. Divine Leasing & Finance Ltd. (CC 375/2008) dated
21.01.2008 wherein it was held -
.. We find no merit in this Special Leave Petition for the simple
reason that If the share application money is received by the assessee company
alleged bogus shareholders, whose names are given to the Ao. then the
Department is Fee to proceed to re-open their individual assessments in
accordance with law"
In the light of the above discussion, I am inclined to agree with
the arguments and evidences provided by the appellant to substantiate that the
transaction regarding Share Application Money received by it were genuine
transactions and the same were not accommodation entries, I also do not find
any evidence collected by the AO. Which could prove otherwise. Accordingly. the
AO was not justified in treating the amount of' share application money
received by the appellant as its undisclosed income.
In view of the aforesaid discussion, I delete the addition of Rs.
15,00,000/- made by the A.O. u/s 68 of the I. T. Act, 1961.
6. Keeping in view of the findings given so Assessing Officer as
well as the Ld. First Appellate Authority and the documentary finding by the
assessee before us. We are of the considered view that Ld. First Appellate
Authority has deleted the addition in dispute on the basis of various
documentary evidence filed by the assessee before the Assessing Officer as well
as before him. Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the case of CIT VS. Lovely
Export 299 ITR 261 (SC) which has confirmed the order of Hon'ble Delhi High
Court has held that once the identity of the share holder have been
established, even if there is a case of bogus share capital, it cannot be added
in the hands of company unless any adverse evidence is not on record. Ld. First
Appellate Authority has examined the documentary evidence filed by the assessee
before the Assessing Officer as well as before him and held that the assessee
has provided confirmations from all the parties as well as various evidences to
establish the genuineness of the transaction, assessee has also relied upon the
judgment of Nemi Chand Kothari Vs. CIT 264 ITR 254 (Gauhati) wherein it has
held that it is a certain law that the assessee is to prove the genuineness of
transaction as well as the creditworthiness of the creditor must remain
confined to the transactions which have taken place between the assessee and
the creditor. It is not the business of assessee to find out the source of
money of creditors. Similar observation has also been given in the case of
Hastimal 49 ITR 273 (Madr) and Daulatram Rawatmal (1973) 87 ITR 349 (SC). Ld.
First Appellate Authority has cited various decisions rendered by ITA
NO.6070/Del/2013 the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India as well as the Hon'ble Jurisdictional
High Court in the impugned order and finally has held that the assessee has
substantiated the transaction regarding share application money received by it
was genuine transaction and the same were not accommodation entries. He did not
find any evidence collected by the AO which could prove otherwise and deleted
the additions in dispute. As regard to the addition of Rs.12,500/- made on
account of commission which was presumed to have been allowed by the assessee
for obtaining the Hawala entry in dispute, the ld. CIT(A) observed that the
Assessing Officer was not able to brought anything on record that it was
assessee's own money which was rooted in the form of share application money
and has rightly deleted the same.
7. Keeping in view all the facts and circumstances , we are of the
considered view that the Ld. First Appellate Authority has passed the impugned
order under the law and according to the facts of the present case and has
rightly deleted the addition in dispute. We find no infirmity in the impugned
order and upheld the impugned order by dismissing the appeal filed by the
revenue.
8. In the result, appeal filed by the Revenue is dismissed."
13. After going through the aforesaid order of the Tribunal, we
find that the facts and circumstances of the present case are similar and
identical to that of the aforesaid case i.e. ITO vs. Neelkanth Finbuiltd Ltd.
(Supra) passed by the 'E' Bench, ITAT, New Delhi in ITA No. ITA
NO.6070/Del/2013 2821/Del/2009 (A.Y. 2006-07) in which both of the Members were
the parties wherein the issues in dispute are decided in favor of the assessee.
Respectfully, following the precedent of the Coordinate Bench as aforesaid, we
quash the orders of the authorities below and delete the addition of Rs.
30,00,000/- made u/s. 68 of the Act by the AO on the allegation of unexplained
credits of share application and allow the appeal of the assessee.
14. In the
result, the appeal filed by the Assessee is allowed.
Order
pronounced in the Open Court on 29/5/2015.
Sd/-
Sd/-
[N.K.
SAINI]
[H.S. SIDHU]
ACCOUNTANT
MEMBER
JUDICIAL MEMBER
Date 29/05/2015
"SRBHATNAGAR"
Copy
forwarded to: -
1.
Appellant -
2.
Respondent -
3. CIT
4. CIT (A)
5. DR, ITAT
TRUE COPY
By Order,
Assistant Registrar,
ITAT, Delhi Benches
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