Source: https://taxcaselaw.com/income_tax_case_laws/section-133/section-133a/bombay-h-c-the-tribunal-erred-in-relying-on-the-statement-under-section-133a-of-the-act-recorded-on-oath-during-the-survey-proceedings-ignoring-the-ratio-laid-down-by-the-apex-court-in-the-cases-o/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 18:51:55+00:00

Document:
M.S. Sanklecha, J. – In this appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (“the Act”), the appellant-assessee has challenged the common order dated 10 April 2012 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (“the Tribunal”) for assessment year 2006-07. The impugned order dated 10 April 2012 of the Tribunal was a common order for assessment years 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08.
“(A) Whether in the present facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Tribunal erred in relying on the statement under Section 133A of the Act, recorded on oath, during the survey proceedings, ignoring the ratio laid down by the Apex Court in the cases of CIT v. S. Khader Khan Son (2012) 254 CTR 228?
(B) Whether in the present facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Tribunal erred by relying on the statement u/s 133A recorded after midnight in the course of survey proceedings ignoring the ratio laid down in the case of, Kailashben Manharlal Chokshi v. CIT  220 CTR 138 (Guj.)?
(C) Whether in the present facts and circumstances and in law, the Tribunal failed to appreciate that the onus of evidence shifted to the respondent, when the appellant explained “Page No.17”, its author, its origin and purpose and the clarification of the statement of employee of the appellant that is of Ms. Brenda?
(D) Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Tribunal was justified in disregarding the crucial affidavit dated 12 December 2008, on record of the proceedings, by Shri Ramesh Shetty, the author of the loose paper explaining ‘Page No.17’ thereby ignoring the Apex Court judgment in the case of Mehta Parikh & Co. v. CIT  30 ITR 181 (SC)?
Date Amount recorded in Note book Amount recorded in the books of account.
The appellant-assessee in the course of his statement during survey proceedings admitted that the amounts collected by receptionist from patients were being entered in the diary/note book.
(b) Besides a loose paper titled “Page No.17” was found during the survey. This loose paper “Page No.17” recorded the monthly receipts from April 2003 to June 2006. On being confronted with “Page No.17”, appellant-assessee agreed to offer additional receipts shown in the loose paper “Page No.17” to tax. However, thereafter the appellant-assessee sought to explain “Page No.17” by stating that this page had been prepared by his financial consultant one Mr. Ramesh Shetty who was preparing a project report to obtain funds from Bank for purchase of equipments. Therefore, it was stated that monthly receipts were inflated so as to enable larger finance from the bankers.
(c) On 30 December 2008, the Assessing Officer completed the assessment for assessment year 2006-07 under Section 143(3) of the Act and inter alia enhanced the income from profession declared at Rs.8.68 lacs to Rs.45.15 lacs. The enhancement being essentially on the basis of cash receipts not recorded in the books of account aggregating to Rs.12 lacs and income shown in the loose paper “Page No.17” not shown in regular books of account aggregating to Rs.24.36 lacs. To support his finding that there was undisclosed Income earned by the appellant, the Assessing Officer also recorded the fact that the appellant-assessee had purchased a flat at Bandra for Rs.92.50 lacs whereas the market value as per the stamp duty valuation of the said flat at Bandra was Rs.1.18 crores. Similarly a shop had been purchased for Rs.21.50 lacs whereas the market value as per the stamp duty valuation was Rs.48.86 lacs. During the course of assessment proceedings, the affidavit of Mr. Ramesh Shetty- the consultant was submitted in support of the appellant’s contention that the figures contained in “Page No.17” were fictitious figures prepared only with a view to enable the appellant-assessee to obtain larger financial facilities from the bank. However, the Assessing Officer concluded that the affidavit of Mr. Ramesh Shetty was an after thought and not supported by any evidence.
(d) Being aggrieved, the appellant-assessee filed an appeal to the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (“CIT(A)”). By an order dated 19 January 2009, the CIT (A) dismissed the appellant’s appeal inter alia holding that the figures given at “Page No.17” pertained to the appellant-assessee. The explanation of the appellant for the figures of receipts shown in “Page No.17” as made for impressing bankers was not accepted on the ground that it reflects a month wise receipt while a banker normally does not seek monthly receipts but yearly receipts. Besides, during the course of survey proceedings the appellant had admitted that the receipts shown in “Page No.17” were from his profession and it is only thereafter that he subsequently came up with the theory of fictitious/ inflated receipts attributable to a financial consultant one Mr. Ramesh Shetty. The CIT(A) on a consideration of all facts concluded that the affidavit of Mr. Ramesh Shetty and the appellant-assessee’s own affidavit are mere after thought. This the CIT(A) held is evidenced by the fact that no such claim of purchase of equipment or appointment of financial consultant was ever made when statement of the appellant was recorded during the survey proceedings. Further, no appointment letter or fees had been paid to Mr. Ramesh Shetty nor the name of the bank to whom these figures were to be tendered are pointed out nor is the equipment which the appellant-assessee proposes to purchase, even mentioned. Thus the affidavit was not credit worthy.
(e) Being aggrieved the appellant preferred a second appeal before the Tribunal. The Tribunal by the impugned common order dated 10 April 2012 dismissed the appellant’s appeals for assessment years 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08. This appeal has been filed by the appellant-assessee for the assessment year 2006-07.
4. We shall now consider the questions as proposed for the appeal relating to assessment years 2006-07 for our consideration.
The requirement of recording a statement on oath is found in Section 132 of the Act i.e. during search and seizure proceeding and such a requirement is not found in Section 133A of the Act. Nevertheless, a statement under Section 133A of the Act does not loose its evidentary value merely because it is made on oath. Besides, the statement in this case is one of the evidences being relied upon and not the sole evidence. The Tribunal in the impugned order has recorded that the addition of income is based not only on the statement of the appellant-assessee but also based on “Page No.17”.
The case law relied upon by the appellant in the matter of CIT v. S. Khader Khan Son  352 ITR 480/ 210 Taxman 248/25 taxmann.com 413 (SC) arising from the decision of Madras High Court in CIT v. S. Khader Khan Son  300 ITR 157 proceeded on the fact that the authorities did not accept the retraction made by a deponent of a statement made on oath during survey proceedings under Section 133A of the Act. This was on the ground that statement was made on oath. Besides the sole evidence against the assessee in that case was the statement made on oath during the survey proceedings which is not the case in the present facts. Further, in this case the appellant-assessee has not been able to show that the statement made is not correct and/or unbelievable. Therefore, the case law relied upon by the appellant-assessee is completely distinguishable and not applicable to the present facts.
(ii) In view of the above, we do not find that question (A) raises any substantial question of law. Accordingly we do not entertain question (A).
The grievance of the appellant is that statement under Section 133A of the Act during the survey proceedings were recorded after midnight and thus the same could not be relied upon.
The Tribunal in the impugned order has rendered a finding of fact to the effect that there is no evidence to show that the statement under Section 133 A of the Act was recorded during the middle of the night. This is a finding of fact and the appellants have not been able to demonstrate that the aforesaid finding of fact as recorded by the Tribunal is perverse and/or arbitrary. It is pertinent to note that in the grounds of appeal before the Tribunal raised by the appellant no ground has been raised regarding the statement being recorded in the middle of the night and therefore, cannot be relied upon. Be that as it may, the finding of the Tribunal is a finding of fact and in the absence of the same being shown to be arbitrary and/or perverse, no substantial question of law arises. Therefore, no occasion to entertain Question B arises.
The grievance of the petitioner is that the impugned order failed to appreciate that the onus of proof had been shifted to the department as “Page No.17” has been explained by the appellant.
The Tribunal has recorded a finding of fact that document titled as “Page No.17” contained monthly receipts from April 2003 to June 2006. During the survey proceedings, the appellant did not dispute the loose paper “Page No.17” but merely stated that it may be estimated figure of receipts during the period covered in “Page No.17”. However, later during the course of the assessment proceedings the appellant-assessee came up with a explanation that the document “Page No.17” is as estimated income prepared by his consultant Mr. Ramesh Shetty for the purpose of obtaining loan from the bank for the purchase of equipments. However, the Tribunal did not examine the deponent of the affidavit i.e. Mr. Ramesh Shetty as no evidence was furnished regarding appointment of Mr. Ramesh Shetty as consultant nor any fees are shown to have been paid to the consultant Mr. Ramesh Shetty. The Tribunal also records the fact that during the survey proceedings there was no mention regarding the consultant having been appointed by the appellant-assessee for the purpose of obtaining loan from the bank. In view of the above facts, the Tribunal holds that the explanation offered later is clearly an after thought as also been held by the lower authorities. In fact, during the survey proceedings, the assessee in his statement recorded on 6 September 2007 has categorically stated that the discrepancy in the figures of receipts shown in the books of account and actual collection of figures are required to meet corruption at various levels. Further, with regard to loose “Page No. 17” the assessee had during the course of survey stated that he will offer the same as additional income. The fact that there was certain additional undisclosed income was further substantiated by the Assessing Officer pointing out certain undisclosed income being invested in property at lower value then that of its value for the purpose of stamp on the property. The Tribunal by the impugned order has confirmed the finding of fact arrived by the CIT (Appeals). In view of the concurrent finding of facts, we see no substantial question arising so as to entertain Question C.
The grievance of the appellant-assessee is that the affidavit dated 12 December 2008 of Shri Ramesh Shetty was completely ignored by the Tribunal even though the affidavit completely explains the loose paper titled “Page No.17”.
In fact, according to the department, the “Page No.17” records income received by the appellant during the period 2003 to 2006 much more than that recorded in his books of account. The CIT (A) in his order records the fact that there was no claim made during survey proceedings of any project or of any consultant much less about any Mr. Ramesh Shetty being involved for preparing a report to enable the appellant for taking loan from bank. Therefore, affidavit of Mr. Ramesh Shetty and his own affidavit filed subsequently are self serving affidavit. The CIT(A) as well as the Tribunal in the impugned order have reached a finding of fact that the affidavit of Mr. Ramesh Shetty is not creditworthy to be examined. This was on the basis that there was no evidence to show Mr. Ramesh Shetty’s appointment as consultant or any evidence of fees being paid to him. Moreover, no details were ever furnished by the appellant of the equipments which they are seeking to purchase for which loan is required or even the name of the banker to whom the appellant was approaching for loan. On the aforesaid finding of fact, the Tribunal by the impugned order concluded that no credence can be given to the affidavit filed by Mr. Ramesh Shetty. The aforesaid finding is one on appreciation of fact and does not give rise to any substantial question of law. The decision of the Apex Court relied upon by the appellant in the case of Mehta Parikh & Co. v. CIT  30 ITR 181 would only apply where identity of a person is established before the affidavit is looked into. In this case the identity of Shri. Ramesh Shetty as a consultant to the appellant-assessee was not established. Accordingly, Question-D also does not raise any substantial question of law. We therefore see no reason to entertain Question-D.
The grievance of the appellant-assessee is that the impugned order erred in treating undisclosed receipt as income by arriving at an ad hoc net profit rate of 90% of the total receipts. It was submitted on behalf of the appellant that only the amount of net profit can be added as undisclosed income to the appellant’s total income.
The Tribunal held that whatever extra expenses had been incurred by the appellant-assessee out of its undisclosed receipts have already been booked as expenses in his Income and Expenditure Account. The Tribunal held that in any case the appellant has not shown any evidence in support of his claim for the cash expenses incurred which were not recorded in the regular books of account of the appellant. Moreover, the explanation of the appellant-assessee that the cash receipts had been suppressed for the purposes of taking care of corruption at various levels also dis-entitles them for claiming expenditure. In fact the impugned order holds that expenditure incurred to make payments of bribe etc. cannot be allowed as an expenditure incurred for the purpose of business or profession in view of the Explanation to Section 37 of the Act. In spite of the aforesaid finding the impugned order modified the order of the CIT (A) and reduced net profit to 90% of undisclosed receipts. This finding of fact was also supported by the fact that the appellant had not led any evidence before the authorities and/or even before the Tribunal to show that any expenditure was incurred out of undisclosed income which was not recorded in his books of account. The aforesaid finding of the Tribunal upholding the order of the CIT (Appeals) is a finding of fact and based on appreciation of evidence. Accordingly, no substantial of law arises. Hence, we see no reason to entertain Question E.
5. In view of the above, Question Nos. A to E as proposed by the appellant-assessee do not raise any substantial question of law. Accordingly the appeal is dismissed. No order as to costs.
This entry was posted in Sec. 133A, Section 69B and tagged 363 ITR, Bombay High Court, In favour of Revenue.

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