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2019 (1) TMI 213 - AT - Income Tax


Issues Involved:
1. Justification of addition made by the AO under Section 68 of the Act regarding sale proceeds of shares treating them as income from undisclosed sources.
2. Validity of the assessee's claim of Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) on the sale of shares.
3. Examination of evidence and procedural fairness in the assessment process.
4. Relevance of previous judicial decisions and their applicability to the current case.

Detailed Analysis:

1. Justification of Addition under Section 68:
The main issue was whether the addition made by the AO under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act, treating the sale proceeds of shares of M/s Kailash Auto Finance Limited (KAFL) as income from undisclosed sources, was justified. The AO did not accept the assessee's claim of LTCG and exemption under Section 10(38) of the Act. The AO found the price movement of the shares and the resultant profits to be beyond human probabilities and suspected manipulation. The AO relied on statements from various individuals and SEBI orders to conclude that the transactions were non-genuine and aimed at providing bogus LTCG to the assessee.

2. Validity of the Assessee's Claim of LTCG:
The assessee claimed LTCG on the sale of shares of KAFL, which were acquired through the amalgamation of M/s Careful Projects Advisory Limited (CPAL) with KAFL. The assessee provided evidence including purchase bills, demat account statements, and bank statements to substantiate the claim. The Tribunal noted that the transactions were conducted through recognized stock exchanges and the sale proceeds were received through banking channels. The Tribunal found that the AO's conclusions were based on suspicion and surmises without any concrete evidence to disprove the genuineness of the transactions.

3. Examination of Evidence and Procedural Fairness:
The Tribunal emphasized the importance of procedural fairness, noting that the AO did not provide the assessee an opportunity to cross-examine the individuals whose statements were relied upon. This was a violation of principles of natural justice, making the AO's reliance on those statements unsustainable. The Tribunal referred to the Supreme Court's decision in CCE vs. Andaman Timber Industries, which underscores the necessity of cross-examination to uphold the validity of adverse statements used in assessments.

4. Relevance of Previous Judicial Decisions:
The Tribunal cited several previous judicial decisions where similar issues were adjudicated in favor of the assessee. Notably, in the cases of Manish Kumar Baid vs. ACIT and Rukmini Devi Manpria vs. DCIT, the Tribunal had allowed the assessee's claim of LTCG on the sale of shares of KAFL, finding no evidence of bogus transactions. The Tribunal also referred to decisions by the Hon'ble Calcutta High Court and other High Courts, which held that transactions supported by documentary evidence such as contract notes, demat statements, and bank statements should be accepted as genuine unless disproved by concrete evidence.

Conclusion:
The Tribunal concluded that the AO's addition under Section 68 was based on suspicion and lacked concrete evidence. The assessee had provided sufficient documentary evidence to substantiate the claim of LTCG. The procedural lapse of not allowing cross-examination further weakened the AO's case. The Tribunal allowed the appeals of the assessee, directing the AO to treat the gains as LTCG and delete the consequential additions. The Tribunal also deleted the addition of ?1,83,020/- as unexplained expenditure towards commission charges, aligning with the finding that the transactions were genuine.

 

 

 

 

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