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2020 (12) TMI 1342 - NAPA - GSTProfiteering - purchase of flat in Celebrity Garden Block-K - it is alleged that the Respondent had not passed on the benefit of input tax credit (ITC) to him by way of commensurate reduction in the price - contravention of provisions of Section 171 of the CGST Act, 2017 - Penalty - HELD THAT:- It is observed that the Respondent is in the real-estate business and has been developing his project "Celebrity Garden-Block K" in Lucknow. It is on record that Applicant No. 1 had filed a complaint alleging that the Respondent has not passed on the benefit of ITC to him by way of a commensurate reduction in the price of the flat purchased by him (Applicant No. 1) from the Respondent - It is found that the DGAP, after a detailed investigation, has found that the Respondent has not passed on ITC benefit amounting to Rs. 1,54,269/- (inclusive of GST) to his recipients/homebuyers as required under the provisions of Section 171 of the CGST Act, 2017. It is observed that the provision of the RERA Act, 2016 makes it mandatory for a real estate developer/promoter to maintain separate bank accounts for each of his projects registered separately under the RERA Act, 2016. In the case of the Respondent, the above provision implies that he was required to maintain four separate escrow/bank accounts in respect of the four towers/blocks of the project "Celebrity Gardens", however the DGAP's Report has no mention of this aspect. It has a bearing on the instant proceedings since the DGAP's Report dated 23.03.2020 only covers one of the four blocks i.e. Block 'K'. As the Respondent had obtained four separate RERA registrations for his four blocks/towers, he should have maintained separate escrow/bank accounts - the compliance of the Respondent with the provisions of the RERA Act, 2016, becomes paramount and need to be examined. In view of this, there arises the need to revisit the investigation to ascertain if the Respondent has passed on the benefit of ITC to the homebuyers of the other 3 towers/blocks of the impugned project by a commensurate reduction in the prices of the residential units supplied by him in terms of Section 171 of the CGST Act, 2017. In terms of the provisions of Section 171 (2) of the CGST Act and for the reasons detailed in this Order, the DGAP is directed to further investigate the present case under Rule 133 (4) of the CGST Rules, 2017 to ensure the Respondent has passed on the benefit of ITC by way of a commensurate reduction in the prices in respect of the residential units supplied by him. Hence, without dwelling upon any other aspect of the case and without going into any contentions of the Respondent and the Applicants, this Authority, under the powers conferred on it vide Rule 133(4) of the CGST Rules read with Section 171 of the CGST Act 2017, directs the DGAP to reinvestigate this case and recompute the quantum of profiteering. The DGAP is directed to submit a fresh Report after a detailed investigation as per Rule 129 (6) of the above Rules, 2017. The Respondent is directed to extend all necessary assistance to the DGAP and furnish him with necessary documents or information as required during the course of the investigation - matter on remand.
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