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2016 (9) TMI 861 - HC - Income TaxReopening of assessment - whether technology developed by Sun Pharma through use of its research and development facilities was routed to CARACO through Unimed and Sun BVI in British Virgin Islands? - Held that:- Both the notices for reopening cannot coexist. The reasons recorded in the case of Unimed and Sun Pharma pertain to the same transaction. The same income obviously cannot be taxed twice. Apart from this, the reasons recorded in the case of Sun Pharma substantially destroy the reasons recorded in the case of Unimed. We say so for the simple reason that as noted earlier in case of Unimed, the case of revenue was that Unimed had transferred technology to Sun BVI for disclosed consideration of 4 lac USD. Shortly thereafter, the same technology was transferred by Sun BVI to CARACO for 1.17 crores USD. According to the information of the Assessing Officer, Sun BVI did not have sufficient wherewithal to carry out research and technology development which would ensure so much of value addition. In his opinion, therefore, Unimed had actually transferred technology to CARACO for a total sale consideration of 1.17 crores USD. On the other hand, in case of Sun Pharma, the Assessing Officer canvases that even Unimed did not have any such capability. It did not have full-fledged R & D facilities or sufficient man power for such research. It was primarily engaged in manufacturing of injections and eye drops. It was Sun Pharma who had developed the technology which transferred it to Unimed who in turn had transferred it to Sun BVI who sold it to CARACO. Sun BVI being a subsidiary of Sun Pharma and being based in British Virgin Islands, Sun Pharma evaded payment of tax through such process. In any case, therefore if the revenue contends that it is Sun Pharma from where the technology had originated and Unimed did not have the capability to do so in its own, the grounds mentioned in the reasons for reopening assessment of Unimed must immediately fail. Even before us, counsel for the revenue showed preference for the reopening in the case of Sun Pharma on legal contentions. The sum total of this discussion, without any further consideration, notice for reopening in case of Unimed must fail. Coming back to the notice for reopening in the case of Sun Pharma in the present case, as per the reasons recorded, previously Sun Pharma and Sun BVI had a Technology Transfer agreement. However, in the present case, technology was transferred by Unimed to Sun BVI for a declared consideration of 4 lac USD which, Sun BVI a subsidiary of Sun Pharma based in British Virgin Islands sold the same technology to M/s CARACO for 1.17 crores USD. The statement of Sudhir Valia key person in the group of companies and at that time director of Sun BVI and presently the director of Sun Pharma was recorded under Section 131(1A) of the Act in which he accepted that Sun BVI had no facility of R & D and manufacturing. During the inquiry, revenue also found material to suggest that Sun BVI had acquired technology from Unimed. Unimed also did not have elaborate R & D facility or necessary work force for such purpose. Such R & D facility was only available with the assessee and its research centre. The Assessing Officer therefore formed a belief that Sun BVI is shell company used only as a device to deviate the taxable profits of Sun Pharma as Sun BVI had also not developed any technology on its own. It was found that Sun BVI and CARACO both were subsidiaries of assessee. The assessee company had capacity to produce such technology and in fact between 1997-02, Sun Pharma had supplied such technology developed by it to M/s CARACO. In view of such evidence on record, the Assessing Officer concluded that technology in question transferred was actually done by the assessee to CARACO but was routed through other companies only to avoid payment of tax. In our opinion, these reasons do not lack validity. As noted, elaborate reasons have been recorded by the Assessing Officer which demonstrate how prima facie it can be shown that technology developed by Sun Pharma through use of its research and development facilities was routed to CARACO through Unimed and Sun BVI in British Virgin Islands which ensured that the entire amount escaped assessment in the hands of Sun Pharma. At the stage of considering notice for reopening, one has to see only prima facie whether on the basis of tangible material on record, the Assessing Officer could form a valid belief that income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment.
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