ITAT Remands Case After Appeal Dismissed for Delay, Gives One Chance to Explain Cash Deposits

Tukaram Dnyaneshwar Bhalekar Vs ITO (ITAT Pune) The appeal before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Pune arose from an ex-parte order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) / NFAC for Assessment Year 2017–18, whereby the assessee’s appeal was dismissed in limine due to a delay of 143 days in filing, without adjudication on merits. The underlying assessment treated cash deposits of ₹1,42,79,000 in the assessee’s bank account as unexplained money under Section 69A of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The assessee, an individual engaged in retail trading of agriculture and animal husb...