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IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL "J" BENCH, MUMBAI
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BEFORE SHRI D. MANMOHAN, VICE PRESIDENT AND
SHRI N.K. BILLAIYA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER
/ I.T.A. Nos. 1959, 1961 & 1962/Mum/2011
( / Assessment Years : 2002-03, 2005-06 & 2006-07
AND
/ I.T.A. No. 1960/Mum/2011
( / Assessment Years : 2004-05
Mr. Pravin M. Choksey, / The Dy. CIT (C)
C/o Viren P. Choksey, Circle-45,
Vs.
Krishna Villa, Mumbai
Linking Road,
Santacruz (W),
Mumbai-400 054
. / . /PAN/GIR No. : AAEPC 1292J
( /Appellant) .. ( / Respondent)
/ Appellant by: None
/Respondent by: None
/ Date of Hearing
:13.05.2015
/Date of Pronouncement :20.05.2015
/ O R D E R
PER N.K. BILLAIYA, AM:
These four appeals by the assessee pertain to four different
assessment years i.e. A.Y. 2002-03, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2004-05
respectively. ITA Nos. 1959, 1961 & 1962/M/2011 pertain to levy of
2 Mr. Pravin M. Choksey
penalty u/s. 271(1)(c) of the Act and ITA No. 1960/M/2011 is against the
order made u/s. 143(3) read with Sec. 153A of the Act. All these appeals
were heard together and dispose of by this common order for the sake of
convenience.
2. First we take up the appeal against levy of penalty u/s. 271(1)(c)
pertaining to A.Yrs 2002-03, 2005-06 & 2006-07. The Ld. CIT(A)-38,
Mumbai has disposed of these appeals by a common order dt.
31.12.2010.
3. Briefly stated the facts of the case are that the income returned in
the original return filed u/s. 139(1) of the Act was enhanced in the return
filed u/s. 153A of the Act subsequent to receiving the notice after the
search conducted on 5.10.2007. The additional incomes disclosed in the
returns filed u/s. 153A are as under:
2003-03 2005-06 2006-07
Income from Salary Rs. 24,000/- Rs. 88,000/- -
Income from Business Rs. 71,218/- Rs.1,02,218/- -
Income from Capital gains - (Rs.30,653/-) Rs. 11,895/-
Income from other sources Rs. 46,757/- Rs.1,57,775/- Rs.2,46,261/-
Total Rs.1,41,975/- Rs.3,17,359/-
Less Deduction u/s. chapter VI- Rs. 8,913/- Rs. 12,000/-
A u/s. 80L
Total Rs.1,33,062/- Rs.3,05,359/- Rs.2,58,156/-
3.1. The AO was of the firm belief that but for the search action against
the assessee, he would not have offered the additional incomes which are
made part of the returns of income filed u/s. 153A of the Act.
4. Before the First Appellate authority, the assessee took the plea that
he was of the age of about 80 years suffering from Alzamiers disease and
because of his health condition he could not include certain incomes in
3 Mr. Pravin M. Choksey
the original return filed u/s. 139(1) of the Act. It was further explained
that even the accountant have left the job. It was contended that the
penalty levied u/s. 271(1)(c) of the Act is not justified.
5. The Ld. CIT(A) was not convinced with the reply made by the
assessee. While confirming the penalty order, the Ld. CIT(A) observed
that " the manner in which the assessee has not disclosed the correct
income in the returns of income filed u/s. 139(1) of the Act leads to a
inference that although the appellant was aware of the full particulars of
income, he had failed to submit returns of income by disclosing the entire
income earned by him under different heads of income."
6. Aggrieved by this, the assessee is before us. None appeared on
behalf of the assessee inspite of the knowledge of the date of hearing. The
ld. DR filed written submission.
7. We have carefully perused the orders of the authorities below and
the written submission filed by the DR. The assessment order is dt.
24.12.2009. When the assessee was a Managing Director of M/s.
Panchgani Health Resort Pvt. Ltd., from where he was drawing
remuneration. In addition to that he was also carrying out investment in
shares as well as commission from sale of motor car dealing. The order
of the First Appellate Authority is dt. 31.12.2010 and before the First
Appellate authority, the assessee took the plea of Alzamiers. There is
nothing on record to suggest that in the intervening one year, the assessee
was so ill that he forgot to disclose the complete details of his income.
After giving a thoughtful consideration to the facts on record, we are of
the considered opinion that if the search action had not been conducted,
the additional income disclosed in the return filed pursuant to the notice
issued u/s. 153A of the Act would not have been offered for the purpose
4 Mr. Pravin M. Choksey
of taxation by the assessee. We are therefore convinced that the assessee
has filed inaccurate particulars of income/premeditatedly concealed the
particulars of income for the years under consideration. We, therefore
decline to interfere with the findings of the Ld. CIT(A). Penalty levied
u/s. 271(1)(c) of the Act for A.Y. 2002-03, 2005-06 and 2006-07 are
hereby confirmed. All these appeals are dismissed.
8. In ITA No. 1960/M/2011 for A.Y. 2004-05 the assessee has
preferred the appeal against the addition of Rs. 6,50,000/- made by the
AO in respect of one vehicle owned by and belonging to Shri Rajnash
Bhel. While scrutinizing the return of income for the year under
consideration, the assessee was asked to explain the bank credit entries on
23.5.2003 amounting to Rs. 6,50,000/-. The assessee filed following
explanation:
"The above amount was received by a Demand Draft from
Mr. Ketan Mehta of Seth Minaar, B Wing, 3rd floor opposite Jaslok
Hospital, Pedder Road, Mumbai. As sale price of one vehicle
bearing No. MZE 2002 belonging to Late Mr. Rajnash Bhel of
Sagar Sangeet Bldg., Colaba. The vehicle was lying with me under
repairs for long time since 2001 and unfortunately during this
period Mr. Rajnash Bhel expired on 3rd August, 2004. I has
informed his son Mr. Monish Bhel who due to our good relation
have still not collected the same amount. Hence, the same lies
deposited with me."
9. This explanation of the assessee did not find any favour with the
AO, who observed that after the sale of car and before the death of Shri
Rajnash Bhel and during the intervening period of 15 months, the
assessee did not pay the amount to Shri Rajnash Bhel. The AO further
observed that even till the date of assessment, the amount has not been
paid. The AO treated Rs, 6,50,000/- as undisclosed income of the
assessee.
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10. The assessee carried the matter before the Ld. CIT(A) but without
any success.
11. Aggrieved by this the assessee is before us. None appeared on
behalf of the assessee and the Ld. DR has filed a written submission.
12. We have considered the written submission and given a thoughtful
consideration to the orders of the lower authorities. The main contention
of the assessee was that the vehicle belongs to Shri Rajnash Bhel, which
was sold and the sale consideration was credited in assessee's bank
account. No evidence has been filed in respect of this claim of the
assessee. Further, we find that the vehicle was sold in the year 2003. We
are in the year 2015. Even after a lapse of 12 years, there is nothing on
record to prove that the assessee has paid the amount to the legal heirs of
the deceased Rajnash Bhel. As the assessee has grossly failed in
discharging the initial onus cast upon him to explain the source of deposit
in his bank account, we do not find any reason to interfere with the
findings of the Ld. CIT(A). We, accordingly confirm the addition of Rs.
6,50,000/- and dismiss assessee's appeal.
13. In the result, the appeals filed by the assessee are dismissed.
Order pronounced in the open court on 20th May, 2015
Sd/- Sd/-
(D.MANMOHAN ) (N.K. BILLAIYA)
/VICE PRESIDENT / ACCOUNTANT MEMBER
Mumbai; Dated :20 May , 2015
th
. ../ RJ , Sr. PS
6 Mr. Pravin M. Choksey
/Copy of the Order forwarded to :
1. / The Appellant
2. / The Respondent.
3. () / The CIT(A)-
4. / CIT
5. , ,
/ DR, ITAT, Mumbai
6. / Guard file.
/ BY ORDER,
//True Copy//
/
(Dy./Asstt. Registrar)
, / ITAT, Mumbai
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