Miss Lucy
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Poornima Fire Works, Jaipur vs Assessee

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal19 February 2015

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

Where a search under section 153A reveals incriminating material — here, the assessee's own admission in a statement recorded during the search that it regularly conducted unrecorded purchases and sales, with no exception stated for any year — notices under section 153A may validly be issued for all six preceding assessment years, and the assessments made under that section are not defeated merely because certain earlier years were completed under section 143(1), which is not equivalent to an assessment under section 143(2). Where the assessee's books are rejected under section 145(3) because of unrecorded transactions, the Assessing Officer may estimate the turnover by applying a ratio derived from the unrecorded sales found in other years, and may apply a gross profit rate on that estimated turnover, with the rate being fixed by reference to the assessee's own declared gross profit rates across the years and the comparability of the case relied upon.

Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.

Judgment

As delivered

vk;dj vihyh; vf/kdj.k] t;iqj U;k;ihB] t;iqjIN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, JAIPUR BENCHES, JAIPUR

Jh vkj-ih-rksykuh] U;kf;d lnL; ,oa Jh Vh-vkj-ehuk] ys[kk lnL; ds le{k BEFORE: SHRI R.P. TOLANI, JM & SHRI T.R. MEENA, AM

vk;dj vihy la-@ITA Nos. 1004 to 1007 /JP/2013 fu/kZkj.k o"kZ@Assessment Years : 2003-04 to 2006-07

M/s Poornima Fire Works, cuke The A.C.I.T. 2-A, 138, Shiv Shakti Colony, Vs. Central circle-1, Shashtri Nagar, Jaipur. Jaipur. LFkk;h ys[kk la-@thvkbZvkj la-@PAN/GIR No.: AAEFP 4879 L vihykFkhZ@Appellant izR;FkhZ@Respondent

fu/kZkfjrh dh vksj ls@ Assessee by : Shri P.C. Parwal (C.A.) jktLo dh vksj ls@ Revenue by : Shri Ajay Malik (Addl.CIT)

lquokbZ dh rkjh[k@ Date of Hearing : 27/11/2014 ?kks"k.kk dh rkjh[k@ Date of Pronouncement : 19/02/2015

vkns'k@ ORDER

PER: T.R. MEENA, A.M.

This is a set of assessee's appeals for A.Ys. 2003-04 to 2006-07,

filed against the common order dated 03/10/2013 by the learned

CIT(A), Central, Jaipur. The effective grounds of all the appeals are as

under:-

2 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

Grounds of assessee's appeal being ITA No. 1004/JP/2013 (A.Y. 2003- 04) "1. The learned CIT(A) has erred on facts and in law in upholding the validity of trading addition made by A.O. in assessment framed U/s 153A, dehors any incriminating material found in search or otherwise gathered by him for the year under consideration.

1.1 The learned CIT(A) has erred on facts and in law in estimating the unrecorded sales, twice the recorded sales and thus estimating the total sales at Rs.

35,69,727/- (wrongly taken at Rs. 24 lacs). She has further in applying G.P. rate of 19% on such estimated turnover as against G.P. rate of 11.87% declared by the assessee on the actual turnover of Rs. 11,89,909/- and 17% applied by the A.O. resulting into trading addition of Rs. 5,37,009/- (wrongly computed at Rs. 3,14,761/-)."

Grounds of assessee's appeal being ITA No. 1005/JP/2013 (A.Y. 2004-05) "1. The learned CIT(A) has erred on facts and in law in upholding the validity of trading addition made by A.O. in assessment framed U/s 153A, dehors any incriminating material found in search or otherwise gathered by him for the year under consideration.

1.1 The learned CIT(A) has erred on facts and in law in estimating the unrecorded sales, twice the recorded sales and thus estimating the total sales at Rs. 54,88,839/- (wrongly taken at Rs. 36 lacs). She has further in applying G.P. rate of 18% on such estimated turnover as against G.P. rate of 13.23% declared by the assessee on the actual turnover of 3 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

Rs. 18,29,613/- and 17.25% applied by the A.O. resulting into trading addition of Rs. 7,46,006/- (wrongly computed at Rs. 4,06,015/-)."

Grounds of assessee's appeal being ITA No. 1006/JP/2013 (A.Y. 2005-06) "1. The learned CIT(A) has erred on facts and in law in upholding the validity of trading addition made by A.O. in assessment framed U/s 153A, dehors any incriminating material found in search or otherwise gathered by him for the year under consideration.

1.1 The learned CIT(A) has erred on facts and in law in estimating the unrecorded sales, twice the recorded sales and thus estimating the total sales at Rs. 69,27,294/- (wrongly taken at Rs. 46 lacs). She has further in applying G.P. rate of 17% on such estimated turnover as against G.P. rate of 11.04% declared by the assessee on the actual turnover of Rs. 23,09,098/- resulting into trading addition of Rs. 9,22,728/- (wrongly computed at Rs. 45,27,088/-)."

Grounds of assessee's appeal being ITA No. 1007/JP/2013 (A.Y. 2006-07) "1. The learned CIT(A) has erred on facts and in law in confirming the trading addition of Rs. 1,98,392/- by applying G.P. rate of 17% on the turnover of Rs. 41,86,314/- as against G.P. rate of 12.26% declared by the assessee."

2. In A.Y.2003-04 to 2005-06, the assessee challenged the validity

of issuance of notice U/s 153-A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 4 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

(hereinafter referred as the Act) and addition on account of G.P. rate.

In A.Y. 2006-07, the appellant only challenged the G.P. rate addition.

2.1 Brief facts of the case are that there was a search and seizure

operation carried out on 22/10/2008 at the business and residential

premises of the assessee's group. During the course of search and

seizure operation, incriminating documents/loose papers were found

and seized. The learned Assessing Officer issued notice U/s 153A of the

Act in all the assessment years, thereafter detailed questionnaire was

issued by him. The assessee is a partnership firm engaged in wholesale

and retail business of fireworks. The learned Assessing Officer observed

that the books of account had not been produced by the assessee in

A.Y. 2003-04 and 2004-05 but produced for the A.Y. 2005-06 and 2006-

07. In A.Y. 2003-04, the learned Assessing Officer presumed that the

assessee firm had not maintained regular books of account. During the

course of assessment proceedings, the assessee firm furnished copy of

balance sheet, trading account, P&L account and other

details/informations. On verification of details, the learned Assessing

Officer found the following G.P. on total turnover with percentage of

G.P., the chart is as follows:

5 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

Sl. A.Y. Gross Profit (Rs.) Total Turnover %age of No. (Rs.) G.P. 1 2003-04 1,41,238/- 11,89,909/- 11.87%

2. 2004-05 2,41,985/- 18,29,613/- 13.23%

3. 2005-06 2,54,912/- 23,09,098/- 11.04%

4. 2006-07 3,22,211/- 26,27,528/- 12.26% It has been further observed that in absence of complete books of

account, the closing stock of the firm is not verifiable resultantly the

gross profit worked out also had no sanctity. Further during the course

of assessment proceedings, the assessee furnished the details of

unaccounted sales in A.Y. 2006-07 to 2009-10, which is reproduced as

under:-

A.Y. As per regular books of account Unaccounted sales Sales G.P. Ratio Sales G.P. Ratio 2003-04 11,89,909/- 11.87% 2004-05 18,29,613/- 13.23% 2005-06 23,09,098/- 11.04% 2006-07 26,27,528/- 12.26% 15,58,786/- 12.26% 2007-08 15,93,180/- 12.98% 49,40,182/- 12.98% 2008-09 20,56,885/- 13.00% 70,88,444/- 13.04% 2009-10 21,57,817/- 14.99% 70,24,060/- 13.04%

The assessing has admitted this fact that it indulged into transactions

which were not entered into regular books of account. These facts were

also admitted by Shri Madan Mohan Gupta, the main key person of the

assessee group in his statement recorded during the course of search 6 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

operation. Shri Madan Mohan Gupta has stated in his statement dated

21/10/2008 in reply to question No. 21, which is reproduced as under:-

Ikz'u 21 vkt fnukad 22-10-08 dks lpZ dh dk;Zokgh ds nkSjku tks yqt isilZ Annexure bR;kfn ik;s x;s vkSj tCr fd;s tk jgs gSa muds vUnj dPps purchase & sale dh dkxtkr 'kkfey gS A vkids Books of A/c Hkh iwjh rjg cus gq, ugh gSa vkSj bl dkj.k LVkd dk lR;kiu Hkh vki ugh djok ik jgsa gSa bu lHkh dfe;ksa ds ckjs vki dk D;k dguk gSa \ mRrj eSa ;g Lohdkj djrk gwWa fd gekjs iVk[ksa ds business esa dkQh gn rd transaction cgh [kkrksa ds ckgj jgrs gSa gekjs sale and purchases Hkh cash esa gksrs gSa A ftudk fooj.k cgh[kkrksa esa ntZ ugh gksrk ;gh dkj.k fd cgh[kkrs izfrfnu update ugha fd;s tkrs gS vkSj blfy, gekjs business premises ij ik;s x;s stock dk lR;kiu djokuk lEHko ugh gSa bu lHkh dfe;ksa dks eSa igys Hkh Lohdkj dj pqdk gwa fiNys iz'uksa ds mRrj esa eSua s crk;k Fkk fd esjh v?kksf"kr vk; esa ls eSaus 41 yk[k :I;s yksxksa dks m/kkj ns j[ks gSa blds vykok 15 yk[k :- agreement ds vuqlkj ukbZ fd FkMh okyh tehu vykok 20 yk[k ds djhc uxnh ik;s x;s esjs ?kj ij ik;k x;k gS mls eSa viuh v?kksf"kr [kkrksa esa vftZr vk; ds :i esa Lohdkj dj pqdk gwWa A blds vfrfjDr tks loose paper bR;kfn esjs ?kj ,oa business LFkkuksa ls ik;s x;s gSa muesa v?kksf"kr vk; vkSj mlls vftZr fuos'k ds :i esa eSa LosPNk ls viuh v?kksf"kr vk; lefiZr djuk pkgrk gwWa A eSa ;g Hkh Li"V djuk pkgrk gq fd gekjs business izfr"Bkuksa esa djhc 10 ls 12 yk[kksa dk stock v?kksf"kr vk; ls vftZr fuos'k ds :i esa fo/keku gSa A bu lHkh djxtkr stock bR;kfn ds :Ik esa eSa vius vuqeku l 30 yk[k :I;s Hkh v?kksf"kr vk; bl isVs vk;dj ds fy, lefiZr djrk gwWa A ftlesa v?kksf"kr stock] 7 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

sale, purchases ds dPps dkxtkr ,oa esjs ?kj ,oa business izfr"Bkuksals ik;s x;s dkxtkr o nLrkost esa yh xbZ transaction 'kkfey gSa A During the course of search operation, it is also found that the books of the assessee are incomplete as per the statement of Shri Pankaj Agarwal in reply to Q. No. 8 recorded U/s 131 of the I.T. Act, 1961 on 05/01/2008 which is reproduced below:

iz'u8- eSa vkidks vkids business premises 295-296 The Rajasthan Shora Supply Co., Hawa Mahal Bazar, Jaipur ls impound dh x;h laptop ftldk data ,d vyx hard disk esa copy fd;k gqvk gSa bl hard disk dks [kksy dj fn[kk jgk gwWa A d`I;k crk;s fd blesa D;k D;k gSa \

mRrj bl hard disk esa gekjh firm vkSj concerns dk tally&9 vkSj tally&7-2 format esa data j[kk gSa A tally 7-2 esa Hkh cgh data gS tks fd tally 9 esa gSa A cl mls upgrade dj fn;k x;k gSa A tally 9 esa Poornima fireworks dh F.Y. 2005&06] 2006&07 dh rks iwjh complete books gS vkSj F.Y. 2007&08 o 2008&09 dh incomplete books gSa A

On the basis of above facts, the learned Assessing Officer concluded

that the opening stock as well as closing stock of the firm was not

verifiable. During the course of assessment proceedings, the learned

Assessing Officer issued notice U/s 133(6) of the Act to verify the

8 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

purchases in some of the cases. Out of these notices issues, following

notices were returned back by the postal authority unserved giving

remark "Not known" or "No such address" etc.

1. M/s Arjun Fireworks, Sivakashi.

2. M/s Shri Divan Foreworks, Thiruthangal, Sivkashi

3. M/s Rajavel Fireworks factor, Sivkashi.

4. M/s Jaya Latchana Fireworks, Sivkashi.

5. M/s Durgaiamman Fireworks, Vishwanathan, Sivkashi.

6. M/s Anitha Sparklers Fireworks, Sivkashi

7. M/s Gokila Fireworks, Sivkashi.

The learned Assessing Officer again gave the reasonable opportunity of

being heard to prove the genuineness of the purchases made by it. The

learned Assessing Officer also held that the onus to prove the purchases

genuine is on the assessee by relying on the various decisions

considered by him, which is as under:-

(i) M/s Indian Woolen Carpet Factory Vs. ITAT & Others (2002) 178 CTR 420 and M.P. High Court in the case of VISP (P) Ltd. Vs. CIT & Anr. 186 CTR 718.

(ii) Awadesh Pratap Singh Abdul Rehman & Bros. Vs. CIT (1994) 76 Taxman 106 (All.).

(iii) S.N. Namasivayam Chettiar Vs. CIT (1960) 38 ITR 579.

(iv) M/s Kachwala Gems Vs. JCIT (2007) 288 ITR 10.

9 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

The learned A.R. for the assessee submitted reply before the Assessing

Officer and claimed that on the basis of seized material for A.Y. 2003-04

to 2005-06, no unaccounted sales and purchases were detected by the

department. The learned Assessing Officer calculated the ratio between

the sales entered in the regular books of account and unaccounted

sales as per the chart given above i.e. 1:3. The assessee's claim was

that during the A.Y. 2003-04 to 2005-04, there was no unaccounted

sales/purchases but which was not found acceptable to the Assessing

Officer on the basis of subsequent year unaccounted sale and purchase

found by him and held that modus operandi of the assessee firm was

not maintaining regular books of account and all the transactions

regarding purchases and sales were made in cash, which was not

completely entered in regular books of account. He also presumed that

the assessee might have destroyed paper relating to unaccounted sales.

Shir Madan Mohan Gupta and Shri Pankaj Agarwal in his statement had

admitted that all the transactions of sales and purchases were not

entered into the regular books of account. Further he also referred

Section 114(d) of the Indian Evidence Act for interpolation of the

evidence for A.Y. 2003-04 to 2005-06. On the basis of ratio of

accounted sales and unaccounted sales found during the course of 10 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

search in A.Y. 2006-07 to 2009-10. He calculated total sales for A.Y.

2003-04 at Rs. 35,69,729/- in place of Rs. 11,89,909/-, in A.Y. 2004-05

at Rs. 54,88,839/- in place of Rs. 18,29,613/-, in A.Y. 2005-06 at Rs.

46,00,000/- in place of Rs. 23,09,098/-. However, in A.Y. 2006-07, the

gross sales has been taken at Rs. 26,27,528/- (as per regular books of

account) and Rs. 15,58,786/- (on the basis of unaccounted sales and on

the basis of seized material) at Rs. 41,86,314/-. The learned Assessing

Officer applied G.P. rate in A.Y. 2003-04 after rejecting the book result

U/s 143(3) of the Act @ 17%, 17.25% in A.Y. 2004-05, 17.50% in A.Y.

2005-06 and 17.75% in A.Y. 2006-07 and made trading addition of Rs.

6,67,899/- in A.Y. 2003-04, Rs. 10,20,448/- in A.Y. 2004-05, Rs.

13,61,457/- in A.Y. 2005-06 and Rs. 2,29,789/- in A.Y. 2006-07.

3. Being aggrieved by the order of the Assessing Officer, the

assessee carried the matter before the learned CIT(A), who had allowed

the appeal partly in all the years after considering the Hon'ble

Jurisdictional High Court's decision in the case of Jai Steel India Vs.

ACIT (2013) 88 DTR 1 and Hon'ble Supreme Court decision in the case

of ACIT Vs. Rajesh Jhaveri Stock Brokers (P) Ltd. (2007) 210 CTR (SC)

30 and held that the proceeding U/s 153A of the Act is valid. During the

course of search, incriminating documents were found and seized, in 11 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

which unrecorded sales were found by the Assessing Officer for A.Y.

2006-07 to 2009-10. Further during the course of search, statement of

partner of the firm was recorded U/s 132(4) of the Act wherein they

have admitted unaccounted sales as well as the cash purchases and

cash sales in this line of business of fireworks. The Assessing Officer

further investigated the purchases by issuing notice U/s 133(6) of the

Act, which also returned back unserved with remarks "Not known" and

"No such address". She further held that the Hon'ble ITAT in various

cases has held that in case of non-genuine purchases, the rejection of

books of account U/s 145(3) of the Act is justifiable. Once the books of

account have been rejected, the Assessing Officer is free is decide the

assessee's income reasonable on the principles of natural justice by

collecting evidence and considering the past history of the case. She

further relied on the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case

of Ambika Prasad Thakur Vs. Ram Ekbal Rai (1961) 1 SCR 758

equivalent to AIR 1966 SC, 605, wherein it was observed that

"Presumption can be made both backward and forward

within a reasonably proximate time." The learned

Assessing Officer calculated the ratio between accounted sales

and at 1:3 and estimated the turnover and G.P. by relying 12 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

on comparable case of M/s Rajan Fire Works. She also analysed the

percentage of unrecorded sale in A.Y. 2006-07 to 2008-09 and average

also. The search year has not been taken into consideration being an

exceptional year. She herself calculated the ratio of recorded sales to

unrecorded sales 1:2 and estimated total turnover of Rs. 24 lacs in A.Y.

2003-04 in place of Rs. 47,59,636/-. She further considered the

appellant's own case decided by the learned CIT(A) in A.Y. 2009-10

vide order dated 20/1/2012 ITA 69/10-11 wherein G.P. rate was applied

@ 16% on recorded and unrecorded sales. She further observed that it

is a general accepted principle that the G.P. rate increases with decline

in turnover. Since the turnover is held to be of Rs. 24 lacs, the G.P. is

estimated @ 19% on total turnover. Thus, the learned CIT(A) confirmed

G.P. rate @ 19% on total recorded and unrecorded sales of Rs. 24 lacs

and gave the set off gross profit declared at Rs. 1,41,239/- against the

estimated profit of Rs. 4,56,000/-. The net addition of Rs. 3,14,761/-

was confirmed by her in A.Y. 2003-04.

3.1 In A.Y. 2004-05, similar decision has been taken on proceeding

U/s 153A and rejection of books of account U/s 145(3) of the Act on the

basis of same argument given by the learned CIT(A) in A.Y. 2003-04,

she estimated the total sale turnover on the basis of ratio between 13 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

recorded and unrecorded sales i.e. 1:2 at Rs. 36 lacs and applied G.P.

rate @ 18% and allowed set off of gross profit declared by the

assessee in estimated the G.P. at Rs. 6,48,000/- and a net addition at

Rs. 4,06,015/- was confirmed in A.Y. 2004-05.

In A.Y. 2005-06, the G.P. rate was applied by the learned CIT(A)

@ 17% on estimated total turnover of Rs. 46 lacs and gross profit at

Rs. 7,82,000/-. She allowed the set off gross profit of Rs. 2,54,912/-

disclosed by the assessee and net addition of Rs. 5,27,088/- was

confirmed.

In A.Y. 2006-07, she applied G.P. rate @ 17% on total turn of Rs.

41,86,314/- and calculated the G.P. at Rs. 7,11,673/- and allowed the

set off gross profit declared at Rs. 5,13,281/- and final net addition was

confirmed at Rs. 1,98,392/-.

The learned CIT(A) rectified her order vide order dated

23/12/2013 in A.Y. 2003-04 and estimated total sales of Rs. 35,69,727/-

in place of 24 lacs and estimated the gross profit at Rs. 6,78,248/- in

place of Rs. 4,56,000/-. In A.Y. 2004-05 estimated the total sale at Rs.

54,88,839/- in place of Rs. 36 lacs and estimated G.P. rate @ 18% at

Rs. 9,87,991/- in place of Rs. 6,48,000/-. In A.Y. 2005-06 estimated the 14 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

total sale at Rs. 69,27,294/- in place of Rs. 46 lacs and estimated G.P.

rate @ 17% at Rs. 11,77,640/- in place of Rs. 7,82,000/-.

4. Now the assessee is in appeals before us. The learned A.R. for

the assessee submitted as under:-

" Section 153A provides that in case of search, assessing officer shall assess or re-assess the total income in respect of each of six assessment year immediately preceding the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which search is conducted. Therefore, before applying section 145(3), the AO has to record a finding as to how this section is applicable in respect of each of the assessment year. On the basis of general observation in one or few years, the same cannot be applied for all the six immediately preceding A.Y.'s.

It is a fact on record that no unrecorded purchase or sales for the years under consideration were found in search. Therefore estimating the unrecorded sales at three times of recorded sales on the basis of finding pertaining to A.Y. 2007-08 to 2009-10 is without any basis. It may be noted that in A.Y. 2006-07 against recorded sales of Rs.26.27 lacs unaccounted sales of Rs.15.58 lacs was only found. Therefore the estimation of the unaccounted sales made by the AO is de hores any material and such estimation is not envisaged in assessment u/s 153A.

The AO has applied higher g.p. rate by referring to the case of M/s Rajan Fire Works and Emporium. The application of the g.p. rate on this basis is not justified for the following reasons:-

15 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

(i) The AO has not provided the financial data of M/s Rajan Fire Works and Emporium. In assessment proceedings, the result of this firm was not confronted to the assessee.

(ii) The g.p. rate of this concern is not comparable with the assessee for the following reasons:-

- Rajan Fire Works and Emporium is a manufacturer cum wholesaler in this business while assessee is wholesaler only.

- Rajan Fire Works and Emporium is well established entity in this business since 35 years while assessee started its business from 1998.

- The size of business of this firm is much larger than that of assessee.

(iii) The comparative position of the gross profit rate declared by the assessee as per books of account are as under:-

Assessment Sales Gross G. P. Rate Year Profit (%) 2009-10 21,57,817/- 3,23,516/- 14.99 2008-09 20,56,885/- 2,67,395/- 13.00 2007-08 15,93,180/- 2,06,850/- 12.98 2006-07 26,27,528/- 3,22,211/- 12.26 2005-06 23,09,098/- 2,52,912/- 10.95 2004-05 18,29,613/- 2,41,985/- 13.22 2003-04 11,89,909/- 1,41,239/- 11.87 16 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

From the above table it can be noted that the G.P. rate declared by the assessee vary from year to year and comparable with other years.

(iv) In A.Y. 2009-10 AO applied g.p. rate of 18.5% which was reduced by your goodself to 16%.

He relied on the following case laws:

(i) Sinhgad Technical Education Society Vs. ACIT 57 DTR 241 (Pune)

(ii) LMJ International Ltd. Vs. DCIT 22 SOT 315 (Cal.)

(iii) Shabbir Allauddin Latiwala Vs. DCIT 138 TTJ 104 (ITAT) (Rajkot)

(iv) DCIT vs. Royal Marwar Tobacco Product (P) Ltd 16 DTR 129/ 120 TTJ 387 (Ahmadabad)

(v) Anil Kumar Bhatia & Ors. Vs. ACIT 1 ITR 484 (Trib) (Del)

(vi) Anil P Khimani Vs. DCIT 2010-TIOL-177-ITAT-MUM

(vii) ACIT Vs Kamal Kumar S. Agrawal (Indl.) & Ors. 41 DTR 105 (Nag) (Trib)

(viii) Jagdish Duggal vs. ACIT 24 DTR 174 (Chd.)(Trib)

(ix) ACIT Vs. M/s Rochem Separation Systems (I) Pvt Ltd.

2011-TIOL-334-ITAT-MUM Ld. Counsel further contends that in respect of 3 assessment years i.e. 03-04 to 05-06 no incriminating material was recovered, therefore, no notice for these assessment years could have been issued. In view of above cited judgments, consequently the assessment being unabetted and no incriminating material having been found; cannot be framed u/s 153A.

5. The D.R. vehemently supported the order of the learned CIT(A)

and argued that vide statement dtd. 21-10-08 assessee has himself

admitted that he was engaged in the business of carrying out purchases 17 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

and sales outside the books of accounts. He has nowhere referred to

any year as exception in which such activities are not indulged in. Thus

looking at the entirety of statement, seized material, there exist enough

evidence admitted by the assessee himself; establishing that material

was found to issue notices u/s 153A for all the six assessment years.

This statutory process has been diligently followed by ld. AO and

confirmed by ld. CIT(A). Learned CIT(A) was more than reasonable in

estimating the turnover and G.P. rate and allowing part relief to

assessee, therefore, he prayed to confirm the order of the learned

CIT(A).

6. We have heard the rival contentions of both the parties and

perused the material on record. The case law of Jai Steel India Vs. ACIT

(supra) relied upon by the learned counsel for the assessee on 153A

proceeding is not squarely applicable as the Hon'ble Rajasthan High

Court has decided in this case the issue of any whether deduction can

be claimed U/s 153A of the Act or not. As mentioned by the learned

CIT(A) in her order that the assessment was completed U/s 143(1) of

the Act, which has been held by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case

of ACIT Vs. Rajesh Jhaveri Stock Brokers (P) Ltd. (supra) that the

proceeding completed U/s 143(1)(a) of the Act are not same as an 18 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

assessment U/s 143(2) of the Act. Besides these cases will be applicable

when no material is found during the course of search. We find merit in

the contentions of ld DR that considering the statement of assessee

dtd. 21-10-2008 it has been admitted that assessee was regularly

engaged in unrecorded purchases and sales; no exception of any year

has been claimed. Consequently the statement and the seized record

for other year unambiguously become incriminating material for valid

issue of notices u/s 153A. The ground raised challenging the validity of

notices u/s 153A are dismissed

6.1 In these circumstance the case laws relied on by the assessee

become inapplicable as the incriminating material as a result of search

exists on the record. During the course of search, incriminating

documents were found. On the basis of these documents, the Assessing

Officer has tabulated unrecorded sales from A.Y. 2006-07 to 2009-10

and also considered the preponderance of possibility for A.Y. 2003-04 to

2005-06 alongwith statement U/s 132(4) of the Act by the partners and

on admission of unrecorded sales in the line of fireworks business

without quoting a particular year. It is admitted by the appellant in his

statement dated 21/10/2008 that it has been indulging in unrecorded

purchase and sales; no year of exception is stated. This leads to a clear 19 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

indication the assessee as a regular policy indulged in such clandestine

maintenance of books and avoided taxes. Therefore, the notices issued

U/s 153A for all the years by the Assessing Officer are valid and CIT(A)

has rightly upheld them. Further reassessment proceedings were

abated in A.Y. 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 as the assessee's case

were only processed U/s 143(1) of the Act. Therefore, we confirm the

order of the learned CIT(A) on issuance of notice U/s 153A of the Act in

all the years.

7. The learned A.R. also challenged the G.P. rate as well as total

sales turnover estimated. The facts and figures are as under:-

A.Y. GP rate GP rate GP rate Total Total declared applied applied by turnover turnover by A.O. CIT(A) estimated by estimated by the A.O. the CIT(A) 2003-04 11.87% 17% 19% 47,59,636/- 35,69,727/- 2004-05 13.23% 17.25% 18% 73,18,452/- 54,88,839/- 2005-06 11.04% 17.50% 17% 92,36,392/- 69,29,294/- 2006-07 12.26% 17.75% 17% 41,86,314/- 41,86,314/-

The learned Assessing Officer applied comparable case of M/s Rajan

Fireworks and Emporium Prop. M/s Sunder Dass Hasani HUF, who is

wholesalers/retailers of fireworks, who has shown G.P. rate ranging

G.P. from 17% to 18%. The learned AR argued that the case of M/s

Rajan Fireworks and Emporium Prop. M/s Sunder Dass Hasani HUF is 20 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

not a comparable case hence distinguished on various facts and figures

and nature of trading activity in quantum and experience. The assessee

has shown G.P. in 2009-10 @ 14.99% on recorded sales of Rs.

21,57,817/-, therefore, we apply G.P. rate in A.Y. 2003-04 @ 13%, in

A.Y. 2004-05 @ 14%, in A.Y. 2005-06 @ 13% and in A.Y. 2006-07 @

13.5% in the interest of justice. The Assessing Officer is directed to

recalculate the income of the assessee on the basis of G.P. rate decided

by this Court in year wise on estimated total turnover by the learned

CIT(A).

8. In the result, the assessee's appeals are partly allowed.

Order pronounced in the open court on 19/02/2015.

Sd/- Sd/- ¼vkj-ih-rksykuh½ ¼Vh-vkj-ehuk½ (R.P.Tolani) (T.R. Meena) U;kf;d lnL;@Judicial Member ys[kk lnL;@Accountant Member

Tk;iqj@Jaipur fnukad@Dated:- 19th February, 2015

*Ranjan

vkns'k dh izfrfyfi vxzsf'kr@Copy of the order forwarded to:

1. vihykFkhZ@The Appellant- M/s Poornima Fire Works, Jaipur.

2. izR;FkhZ@ The Respondent- The A.C.I.T., Central circle-1, Jaipur.

3. vk;dj vk;qDr@ CIT 21 ITA 1004 to 1007/JP/2013, M/s Purnima Fire Works Vs. ACIT

4. vk;dj vk;qDr¼vihy½@The CIT(A)

5. foHkkxh; izfrfuf/k] vk;dj vihyh; vf/kdj.k] t;iqj@DR, ITAT, Jaipur

6. xkMZ QkbZy@ Guard File (ITA No. 1004 to 1007/JP/2013) vkns'kkuqlkj@ By order,

lgk;d iathdkj@Asst. Registrar

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