Geetaben Dineshchandra Gupta Vs ITO (Gujarat High Court)
Geetaben Dinesh chandra Gupta (Petitioner) has filed the current petition challenging the notice dated March 23, 2019 which proposed the reopening of assessment of the Petitioner under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (the IT Act).
The Petitioner contended that even after the petitioner disclosed all material and relevant facts for the assessment, he received the notice without any reason cited by of the Income Tax Office (Respondent), because of which the notice issued requires to be quashed.
The Respondent whereas contended that the Petitioner through his proprietorship firm, carried out huge transactions of purchases and sales for which mere accommodation entries were provided without there being any physical transportation of goods. The inquiry conducted showed that the petitioner earned commission on the said accommodation entries which were not revealed in the return. Due to the same, assessment was thereby reopened.
The Hon’ble Gujarat High Court observed that the Petitioner had indeed escaped assessment on the commission earned by the accommodation entries which were not revealed while disclosing income.
Further noted, that the investigation carried out by the investigation wing clearly substantiated the case of the Respondent. Therefore, the belief of the Assessing Officer about the income of the Petitioner being escaped from assessment is justified.
FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGMENT/ORDER OF GUJARAT HIGH COURT
1. This petition, under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, is filed by petitioner – Geetaben Dineshchandra Gupta challenging the notice dated 27.03.2019, issued under section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’) proposing to reopen the assessment of the petitioner for the Assessment Year 2012-13.
2. The facts of the case in nutshell are that the petitioner as individual filed Return of Income (RoI) for the year 2012-13, which was thoroughly processed by the respondent and subsequently, scrutiny assessment under Section 143(3) of the Act was also framed. The petitioner filed RoI at Rs.1,42,694/- on 28.09.2012. On 13.08.2013, notice under Section 143(2) of the Act came to be issued to provide certain documents. On 22.07.2014 and subsequently, on 05.08.2014, the petitioner received notices under section 142(1) of the Act, to which, the petitioner filed detailed reply on 04.09.2014. The respondent passed Assessment Order under section 143(3) of the Act on 14.10.2014. It is contended that despite the petitioner fully and truly disclosed all material facts relevant for his assessment during the course of scrutiny assessment along with statement of income with annexures, the petitioner surprisingly received notice dated 27.03.2019, issued under section 148 of the Act. The petitioner filed RoI in response to the same under protest and requested for reasons for reopening the assessment for the Assessment Year 2012-13. On 15.07.2019, the petitioner filed objections against the reasons recorded, which were disallowed on 11.09.2019. It is further contended that there were no allegations against the petitioner for not disclosing the material on record at the time of scrutiny assessment, and therefore, in the absence of any fault on the part of the petitioner, reopening of a scrutinized issue, is contrary to law and therefore, the petitioner has prayed for quashing and setting aside the impugned notice. It is further contended that there is no tangible material found by the department. Further, it is only a change of opinion on the part of the Assessing Officer. Moreover, in the absence of reasoned sanctioned under the Act, the proceedings initiated are required to be quashed. It is further contended that the petitioner has no alternative remedy and therefore, has filed this petition praying for to quash and set aside the impugned notice dated 27.03.2019, issued under section 148 of the Act.
3. Per contra, the respondent has filed affidavit-in-reply inter-alia contending that the petition is filed at a pre-mature stage inasmuch as, it is the notice under section 148 r/w. section 147 of the Act only. It is further contended that the petitioner, in the proprietorship concern of Subhalaxmi Trading Company, carried out huge transactions of purchases and sales. It had come on record that the petitioner accepted that she had made purchases and sales without taking delivery of good. Further, Shri Nikhil Gupta – power of attorney holder of the petitioner, in his statement, has categorically admitted that his mother is a housewife and that, she had not carried out any business activities at any point of time in her life. It is further contended that mere accommodation entries were provided without there being any physical transportation of goods. Further, such statement has also been recorded under section 131 of the Act. The inquiry conducted further revealed that for providing such accommodation entries, entry providers normally earn commission ranging from 0.5% to 1%. Therefore, despite the petitioner earning such commission for providing accommodation entries, had not shown such commission in the return and therefore, based on such tangible material and after due application of mind, assessment has been reopened. Further, the petitioner filed objections and the same had been considered threadbare and rejected subsequently. In the order disposing of the objections, it has been specifically noted that at the time of regular assessment in the case of the petitioner, these details were not available to the effect that the petitioner was not carrying out any genuine business activities but merely providing the accommodation entries in the garb of purchase and sales to Anil Group of companies. Further, information so received from the Investigation Wing being tangible material and no opinion having been formed on the same during the original proceedings, challenge made in the petition to the impugned notice, is thoroughly misconceived and untenable.
3.1 The respondent, in the reply, has further contended that the petitioner has not fully and truly disclosed all material facts relevant for his assessment at the time of filing of return for the year 2012-13, and despite showing huge turn-over of Rs.24,10,82,501/- in the audited books of account, had disclosed a meager income of Rs.1,42,694/-. Further, on perusal of the information received from the Jt. DIT (Inv.) (OSD), Unit- 2(3), Ahmedabad, it came to the knowledge of the Assessing Officer that the assessee has shown huge sales amounting to Rs.24,10,82,501/- and purchase of Rs.27,93,86,111/- during the A.Y. 2012-13. Further, same sale and purchases were made to/from Anil group of companies viz. Anil Ltd, Anil Bioplus Ltd., Anil Tradecom Ltd, Anil Mines & Minerals Ltd, and Anil Nutrients Ltd. in the A.Y. 2012-13 and subsequent years as well. Further, it is contended that Shri Nikhil D. Gupta, Power of Attorney holder of Smt. Geetaben D. Gupta, in his statement before the Investigation Wing had categorically stated that they had made purchase and sales without taking delivery of goods and it was godown delivery only and hence, no transportation was involved. It was further stated that his mother was a housewife and she had not carried out any business activities at any point of time in her life. It is further contended that at the time of regular assessment in the case of the assessee, the Assessing Officer was not aware of the fact that the assessee was not carrying any business activities but merely providing accommodation entries, nor this fact was ever brought on record during the assessment proceedings by the assessee. Hence, the assessee’s contention that she had made full and true disclosure at the time of filing of return of income and during the assessment proceedings, is completely devoid of any merits.
3.2 It is further contended in the affidavit-in-reply filed by the respondent that so far as the contention of the petitioner that in the reasons recorded by the Assessing Officer, there was no allegation against the petitioner as to non-disclosure of material facts at the time of scrutiny assessment, is concerned, it is stated to be baseless and denied by the respondent for the reason that while recording reasons for reopening, the Assessing Officer was in possession of credible information, received from the Investigation Wing that the assessee had been involved in providing accommodation entries to Anil Group. It is observed that such information was not in possession of the Assessing Officer during the assessment proceedings under Section 143(3) of the Act. It is further contended that however, the assessee intentionally chose not to disclose the same, neither at the time of filing of return of income nor during the entire assessment proceedings. Moreover, if the information had not been received from the Investigation Wing, it would not have come to the knowledge of the Assessing Officer. Therefore, in the reasons recorded, it was specifically mentioned that the assessee had not correctly offered true income for tax for the year under consideration. Therefore, it was specifically alleged in the reasons recorded that the assessee had not offered her true income for the relevant year, either at the time of filing of return or during the assessment proceedings. Further, so far as allegation regarding sanction is concerned, it is submitted that the Assessing Officer had taken necessary approval under section 151 of the Act for reopening the case of the of the petitioner. It is also mentioned that such approval was granted by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-3, Ahmedabad after carefully perusing the reasons recorded by the Assessing Officer. Hence, the contention of the petitioner with regard to valid sanction is devoid of any merits.
4. Learned advocate Mr. D. K. Patel for the petitioner vehemently and fervently argued that in the present case, the reopening of assessment is bad in law. He further argued that it is without independent inquiry and without application of mind. He also argued that there is no material on record so as to arrive at such prima-facie conclusion.
4.1 In support of his case, the learned advocate for the petitioner has relied upon following decisions:
i) Tax Appeal No. 7 of 2019 dated 10.06.2019, Principal CIT v. Atul Limited;
ii) OX KPO Services Pvt. Ltd v. DCIT, (2018) 94 Taxmann.Com 467 (Guj);
iii) DY. CIT v. OX KPO Services Pvt. Ltd Vs. DCIT, (2018) 99 Taxmann.Com 301 (SC);
iv) Parashuram Pottery Works Pvt. Ltd. v. Income Tax Officer, (1977) 106 ITR 1 (SC);
v) Cadila Healthcare Ltd. v. DCIT, 334 ITR 420 (Guj);
vi) CIT vs. S. Goyanka Lime and Chemicals Ltd. (2015) 64 Taxmann.com 313 (SC);
vii) Priyanka Carbon and Chemicals Industries Pvt. Ltd. v. DCIT, SCA No. 3797 of 2000 dated 24.07.2008.
4.2 He further drew attention of the Court to the following decisions:
i) New Delhi Television Ltd v. Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, (2020) 116 Taxmann.com 151 (SC);
ii) Manan Exports (P) Ltd v. ITO, (2017) 78 Taxmann.Com 225 (Guj);
iii) R. Kantilal and Co. v. ITO, (2020) 424 ITR 92 (Guj);
iv) Special Civil Application No. 17756 of 2018 in Priti Paras Savla v. ITO, Ward (3)(2)(4) and;
v) CIT vs. Ranchhod Jivabhai Nakhava, (2012) 21 Taxmann.com 159 (Guj).
4.3 The learned advocate for the petitioner has heavily placed reliance upon the latest decision of the Apex Court in New Delhi Television Ltd. (supra), wherein it was held that during original assessment assessee has made disclosure about having agreed to stand guarantee for transaction by NNPLC and it had also disclosed factum of issuance of convertible bonds and their redemption, there being no failure on part of assessee to disclose all material facts, notice issued to assessee after a period of 4 years was to be quashed and set aside and eventually, it was decided in favour of the assessee.
4.4 It is further contended by the learned advocate for the petitioner that in the present case also the petitioner had fully and truly disclosed all material facts at the time of scrutiny assessment and hence, as such there is no reason to believe and therefore, impugned notice under section 148 of the Act deserves to be quashed and set aside.
5. Per contra, learned senior standing counsel Mrs. Mauna Bhatt for the respondent has heavily contended that in the present case the petitioner was provider of accommodation entries to the Anil group for which rate of commission from 0.75% to 1 % is not shown and the transaction of Rs.24,10,82,501/- is nothing but providing accommodation entries and the same is substantiated by the inquiry made by the Investigation Wing and the statement recorded to that effect under Section 131 of the Act and hence, the department has rightly issued notice under section 148 of the Act as there is reason to believe that the petitioner has not fully and truly disclosed all material facts at the time of original assessment, and therefore, this petition is required to be dismissed.
5.1 Learned senior standing counsel Mrs. Bhatt further contended that the decisions relied by the learned advocate for the petitioner are not applicable to the present case. So far as the decision in New Delhi Television Ltd (supra) upon which, the petitioner has placed heavy reliance, is concerned, the said decision also would be of no avail to the petitioner inasmuch as, in the said case, the assessee had assessed all materials prior to reopening and subsequent to the proceedings and therefore, the facts and circumstances are totally different. Eventually, she urged that this petition deserves to be dismissed being devoid of any merits.
6. Having heard the arguments advanced by both the sides and perusing material on record, as per the case of the department, the petitioner – assessee has provided accommodation entries to the Anil Group of companies to the tune of Rs.24,10,82,501/- and the income derived from commission, ranges into 0.75% to 1%, is not disclosed by the petitioner during the year under consideration and thereby, the petitioner has not shown income of Rs.18 lakh, which has escaped assessment.
6.1 At this juncture, if the letter dated 14.03.2019, addressed to the ITO, Ward-3(3)(2), Ambawadi, Ahmedabad by Joint Director of Income Tax (Inv)(OSD), Unit–2(3), Ahmedabad, which is on record, is referred to, it is observed therein that, “In reply subject vide her submission dated 14/09/2018 stated that they have made purchases and sales without taking delivery of goods. Shri Nikhil D. Gupta, power of authority holder of Smt. Geetaben D. Gupta, in his statement has categorically stated that his mother is a housewife and she had not carried out any business activities at any point of time in her life till date. Further, he clearly stated that as a young boy of his family he had seen one person, who is the accountant of Anil Group had in-fact contacted their family for accommodation trading activities in-lieu of financial help. Further, Shri Nikhil D Gupta also stated that there was no physical transportation of goods against such sale / purchase bills. During the recording of statement u/s. 131 of the I.T. Act, vide Qus no. 5 Shri Nikhil Dineshbhai Gupta, son and authority holder of Smt. Geetaben D. Gupta requested to offer his comments on submission dated 14/09/2018 wherein it is submitted that “We have made purchase and sales without taking delivery of goods. It was at godown delivery only hence no transportation is involved.” It is also observed that, “In reply that Shri Nikhil D. Gupta, son and authority holder of Smt. Geetaben D. Gupta stated that they were provided accommodation transaction bills for turnover / sales to Anil Group of companies and there was no actual delivery of goods. He further stated that all the transactions were only paper transactions which were prepared and managed by the Anil Group. He further clarified that all bills/invoices and delivery challans for such paper transactions were generated and kept by Anil Group. All the books of accounts and relevant documents were prepared and managed by Anil Group only. On being asked regarding the benefits received by them against such accommodation entries, Shri Nikhil D. Gupta stated that his family used to receive financial benefits which have been shown as profit out of such billing activity”.
6.2 It further observed therein that, “on verification of audited books of accounts it is found that Subhalaxmi Trading Company has shown unsecured loan of Rs.1,33,97,945/- during F.Y. 2011-12 to 2013-14 relevant to A.Y. 2012-13 to 2014-15. On being asked regarding the creditworthiness and genuineness of such unsecured loan, Shri Nikhil D. Gupta, son of Smt. Geetaben D. Gupta stated that all the transactions were carried out by Anil Group only. As can be seen ultimate beneficiary of total fund of Rs.1,74,88,107/- were Agranil Marketing Ltd and Jalaram Commodities Pvt. Ltd shown as sundry debtors, are the related company of Anil Group. Further, according to Nikhil Gupta sundry creditors amounting to Rs.12,63,61,871/- as on 31.03.2012 were again Anil Group of companies. From the books of accounts of Subhalaxmi Trading for F. Y. 2011-12 and the facts stated in the statement by Shri Nikhil D. Gupta Power of authority holder of Geetaben D. Gupta, it is crystal clear that the unsecured loan shown in the audited books of accounts Subhalaxmi Trading for F.Y. 2011-12 were paper transactions (accommodation entries) carried out by Anil Group of companies in the name of Subhalaxmi Trading”. It is concluded that, “From the detail discussion made above, it is proved beyond any reasonable doubt that whatever the transactions recorded in the case of subject i.e. Subhalaxmi Trading Company is carried out by Anil Group to facilitate to suppress the correct profit earned by it by inflating the purchase(s). Considering the facts, the inflated purchases carried out by the Anil Group of company from the subject for the F.Y.s 2011-12 to 2013-14, the details of which are as under:
