S. 271(1)(c):
Law on levy of penalty in a case where satisfaction is recorded in s. 153C/153D
assessments by AO who is common to the searched party and the assessee
explained
(i) The argument that the
satisfaction ought to have been recorded by the AO of the searched person and
copy of such satisfaction should be available in the record of searched person
is not acceptable because the AO of the searched person as well as of the
assessee is a common authority. The same AO has jurisdiction over both the
assessees. He has recorded the satisfaction for satisfying himself that money
belonged to the assessee was found at the premises of the assessee. His action
is being challenged that he has recorded the satisfaction while taking cases of
the present assessee i.e. when he took cases of such other persons, whereas he
should have recorded satisfaction in the capacity of AO of searched person.
There is built-in fallacy in the arguments of the assessee. The fallacy became
evident if the argument if tested by envisioning to the facts of the present
case. There is no dispute that notice under section 153C was issued by the AO
after recording the satisfaction extracted supra. The AO is the same AO who has
jurisdiction over the searched person as well as the other person i.e. the
assessee. Let us take a situation, the AO was examining the file of Shri
Bhaskar Ghosh. On perusal of his statement recorded under section 132(4)
coupled with the fact of cash found during the course of search and buttressed
by the Managing Director (Finance) of the KPC Group of companies, visualized
that cash belonged to the assessee, he immediately took a piece of paper and
recorded his satisfaction that the money belongs to the assessee, therefore
notice under section 153C is to be issued in the case of assessee. The question
is, where this paper was placed by him? Whether in the order sheet entries of
Shri Bhaskar Ghosh’s assessment proceedings; in a separate file or in cupboard
available in his room. There is no dispute that this satisfaction was not
recorded within the stages contemplated by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the
case of CIT vs. Calcutta Knitwears 362 ITR 673. The
attempt at the end of the assessee is that there should be a straight jacket
system, whereby the satisfaction recorded even by the same AO then, that should
be placed in the file of searched person and if it is placed in some other
cupboard in his room by the AO then, there cannot be any satisfaction, we fail
to appreciate that technical approach at the end of the assessee. The law does
not require the manner and the procedure of keeping the files. The section only
requires that a satisfaction be recorded and it should be during the period
propounded by Hon’ble S.C. in CIT vs. Calcutta Knitwears 362
ITR 673, that has been recorded in the present case. The second scenario can
also happen that seized material of KPC group might be kept in a common bundle,
wrapped in a cloth where all the files are emanating from search and survey are
being placed. If the above satisfaction note was found to be tagged with other
file would it be held that no satisfaction was recorded. In our understanding
the reply will be that satisfaction was recorded (Manish Maheshwari vs. ACIT 289
ITR 341,Pepsi Foods Pvt. Ltd. vs. ACIT 367 ITR 112 and CIT vs. Calcutta Knitwears362 ITR 673 followed)
(ii) The most important feature of
section 271(1)(c) is deeming provisions regarding concealment of income. The
section not only covered the situation in which the assessee has concealed the
income or furnished inaccurate particulars, in certain situation, even without
there being anything to indicate so, statutory deeming fiction for concealment
of income comes into play. This deeming fiction, by way of Explanation I to
section 271(1)(c) postulates two situations;
(a) first whether in respect of any
facts material to the computation of the total income under the provisions of
the Act, the assessee fails to offer an explanation or the explanation offered
by the assessee is found to be false by the Assessing Officer or CIT( Appeal);
and,
(b) where in respect of any fact,
material to the computation of total income under the provisions of the Act,
the assessee is not able to substantiate the explanation and the assessee
fails, to prove that such explanation is bona fide and that the assessee had
disclosed all the facts relating to the same and material to the computation of
the total income. Under first situation, the deeming fiction would come to play
if the assessee failed to give any explanation with respect to any fact
material to the computation of total income or by action of the Assessing
Officer or the Learned CIT(Appeals) by giving a categorical finding to the
effect that explanation given by the assessee is false. In the second
situation, the deeming fiction would come to play by the failure of the
assessee to substantiate his explanation in respect of any fact material to the
computation of total income and in addition to this the assessee is not able to
prove that such explanation was given bona fide and all the facts relating to
the same and material to the computation of the total income have been
disclosed by the assessee. These two situations provided in Explanation 1
appended to section 271(1)(c) makes it clear that that when this deeming
fiction comes into play in the above two situations then the related addition
or disallowance in computing the total income of the assessee for the purpose
of section 271(1)(c) would be deemed to be representing the income in respect
of which inaccurate particulars have been furnished. On examination of the
facts, we find that firstly, there is no explanation at the end of assessee,
why it has not disclosed these donations in the original return(s)? There is no
bona fide in the alleged explanation of the assessee that it had received the
money through account payee cheque and, therefore, harbored a belief that
donations are genuine. This explanation is wholly for the sake of explanation.
The assessee failed to spell out specific facts and circumstances or reason
which operated in the minds of its managing director, finance while preparing
the return and treating these donations as genuine. Looking to the facts of
these five donors, no prudentman would, however, harbor a belief that such
companies can give donation. It is pertinent to note that it cannot be a
co-incidence or a chance that five companies managed by a common director,
having assets of less than Rs.1 lac, not done any business but would give
donations of Rs.33 crores. These circumstances in itself suggest a well
designed scheme at the behest of the assessee, because it is the assessee who
is ultimately getting the benefit. Therefore, there was no explanation at the
end of assessee for not showing these donations as its income in the original
return(s) or in the return(s) filed in response to notice under section 153C.
The CIT(A) has rightly confirmed the penalty upon the assessee.
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