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2015 (7) TMI 6 - AT - Income TaxPenalty under section 271(1)(c) - unaccounted donations - notice under section 153C - argument of the ld. Departmental Representative was that if AO of the searched person and the assessee is the same it does not make any difference whether satisfaction is recorded in the case of the searched person or the other person - Held that:- The ITAT had arrived at a conclusion that satisfaction was recorded while taking up the cases of other person. This conclusion has been drawn on the basis of material supplied under query made as per RTI Act. It is a factual issue. We are conscious of this fact but we have dealt with the facts in the present case and observed that satisfaction was recorded by the AO while scrutinizing the papers of the searched person. It is very difficult to create a distinction to find out when such satisfaction was recorded when files of both the assessees are lying open upon the table of A.O. The ITAT, Delhi Bench had drawn inference on the basis of facts available in that case. It had not interpreted any provision. We have considered this aspect under the fore going paragraph. Therefore, we do not find any merit in the first fold of submission made by the ld. counsel of the assessee. 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 ₹ 1 lac, not done any business but would give donations of ₹ 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 ld. Commissioner has rightly confirmed the penalty upon the assessee. We do not find merit in the contentions of the ld. counsel for the assessee. Powers of the Commissioner while dealing with penalty appeal are restricted to the penalty proceedings only. He may confirm or cancel the imposition of penalty. He may enhance or reduce the penalty. He cannot give direction to the AO for exploring the additions in an assessment. Direction given by the ld. Commissioner in pargraph 6.3 to 6.7 are contrary to the provisions of law and, therefore, this finding of the ld. CIT(A) is quashed. The penalty imposed by the AO in the cases of KPC Medical College & Hospital is confirmed in all the three years. The appeals are treated as partly allowed for statistical purpose.
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