The High Court held that once the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal ...

No burden to prove innocence; Reversal of bogus purchases disallowance for lack of evidence.

Case Laws     Income Tax

October 17, 2024

The High Court held that once the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) found no cogent or convincing evidence from the Revenue to allege bogus purchases, it was wrong to expect the assessee to prove its innocence. The ITAT erred in upholding the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (CIT-A)'s ad hoc disallowance of 10% of the total purchases as bogus, without analyzing the reasonableness or justification for such disallowance. The ITAT's approach of adopting a middle ground by endorsing the 10% disallowance, despite finding no cogent evidence from the Revenue, gave credence to the proposition that the law can demand proof of the negative from the assessee. The High Court opined that such an approach is repugnant and cannot be endorsed as a process known to law to disallow expenses on the premise of being bogus. Consequently, the High Court ruled in favor of the assessee and against the Revenue.

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