Assessment order quashed as section 153D approval was without application of mind

MDLR Airline (P) Ltd. Vs DCIT (ITAT Delhi) ITAT held that A careful reading of the approval granted u/s 153D of the Act clearly indicates that the Approving Authority has neither examined the assessment records nor the seized materials. In fact, the letter of the Assessing Officer seeking approval also makes it clear that only draft assessment orders were sent for approval without any assessment record or seized material. It is further clear that on the very same day the letter of the Assessing Officer with draft assessment orders were received, approval u/s 153D of the Act was granted by the ...