TMI Blog2016 (5) TMI 421X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ircumstances, we delete addition made in the hands of assessee by the CIT(A) to the extent of 4% of the said alleged production. Accordingly, ground of appeal raised by the assessee against rejection of books of account and confirming the addition made on account of suppression of production by applying GP rate of 4% on the alleged production of sale are allowed. - Decided in favour of assessee - ITA No.1884/PN/2014, ITA No.2022/PN/2014, ITA No.05/PN/2015 - - - Dated:- 31-3-2016 - MS. SUSHMA CHOWLA, JM AND SHRI PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA, AM For The Assessee : Shri J.P. Bairagra For The Department : Shri Dheeraj Kumar Jain ORDER PER SUSHMA CHOWLA, JM : Out of this bunch of three appeals, cross appeals filed by the assessee and the Revenue are against the order of the CIT(A), Aurangabad, dated 26.08.2014 relating to assessment year 2010-11 against the order passed under section 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short the Act ). The Revenue is also in appeal against the order of the CIT(A), Aurangabad, dated 28.10.2014 relating to assessment year 2011-12 against the order passed under section 143(3) of the Act. 2. All the appeals relating to the same asse ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 9. The appellant craves to add to, alter or amend the foregoing grounds which are without prejudice to one another, at the time of hearing. 4. The Revenue in ITA No.2022/PN/2014 has raised the following grounds of appeal:- 1. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the CIT(A) was justified in quantifying the suppressed production @ 4% even after accepting the fact that the assessee indulged in clandestine removal of goods without payment of taxes. 2. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case whether the CIT(A) was justified in not appreciating the fact that manufacturing and administrative expenses on the unaccounted production worked out in the appellate order had already been borne by the production shown in the books of accounts? 3. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case whether the CIT(A) was justified in not appreciating the fact that the working capital is required for purchase of raw material and day to day activities for production of goods every year. 4. The order of the AO be restored and that of the CIT(A) be vacated 5. The Revenue in ITA No. 05/PN/2015 has raised the following grounds of appeal:- ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ting to assessment years 2007-08 2008-09 i.e. appeals filed by the Revenue, the Tribunal had decided the similar issue vide consolidated order dated 15.07.2015 and thereafter, passed Corrigendum order dated 17.02.2016. 10. Briefly, in the facts of the case, the assessee was engaged in the business of manufacturing of MS TMT Bars and major raw material required was MS Billets. For the year under consideration, the assessee had furnished return of income declaring total income of ₹ 18,94,500/-. The case of the assessee was picked up for scrutiny. The Assessing Officer prepared detailed chart of monthly electricity consumption, production of TMT Bars and MS melting scrap, which is annexed with the assessment order as Annexure A. As per the said chart, it was observed by the Assessing Officer that minimum electricity unit consumption per MT of production came to 192 units and maximum came to 413 units. The Assessing Officer was of the view that there was abnormal deviation in electricity unit consumption per MT i.e. up to 221 units per MT, which indicated that in the books of account of assessee, the production was not disclosed correctly. Further, the Assessing Officer to ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ded Excise Duty and has not accounted for the said purchases of raw material and also sale of TMT bars as is evident from the investigation and enquiries made by Director General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI). (2) The appellant has also admitted the said clandestine removal of goods in the statement recorded in investigation by DGCEl and also before the Settlement Commission of Customs and Excise Department and has paid the Excise Duty and the Settlement Commission has levied token penalty in respect of the said clandestine sale out of the books. (3) The A.O. has reasonably estimated, after considering various reports and studies in-respect of electricity consumption required for producing TMT bars, at 188 electricity units per Metric Ton. (4) The A.O. has also pointed out that there is substantial variation in various months and in respect of various manufacturers of TMT bars in electricity consumption required for the quantum of goods produced, which is abnormal. The A.O. has also noted substantial variation in yield and shortages during various months in the years under appeal. (5) The decision in the case of ACIT Vs, SRJ Peety Steels Pvt.Ltd. / ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ntiary findings have been noted in the cases of the applicants including the appellant. The said findings in the case of SRJ Peety Steels Pvt. Ltd. manufacturing TMT bars are as under:- (a) Cost of electricity and raw material shown to be 125% of selling price of ingots. (b) Sanctioned auxiliary load was only 7.8% of the total sanctioned load but claimed to be 25% by appellant in statement; (c) Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) confirmed net addition of income of ₹ 23.5 lakhs on account of suppressed production of ingots for assessment years 2001-02 to 2006-07. (d) Clandestine clearance for specific case admitted before Settlement Commission. Similar observations have been made by the Hon ble Appellate Tribunal in the case of other manufacturers (including the appellant). The Hon ble CESTAT has also taken support of decision of Hon ble Madras High Court in the case of Alagappa Cement Pvt. Ltd. Vs. CEGAT CCE, Trichy (20100TIOL-770-HC-MAD-CS) and held that the Revenue cannot be faulted for demanding duty on the steel ingots which could have been manufactured by consuming excess quantity of electricity. The Hon ble Appellate Tribunal ha ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... relied on series of case laws. He continued his arguments in the pre-lunch hour on 07.05.2015. On the perusal of the written Note filed by the Ld. Special AR and on comparison of the said written Note with the written Note dated 05.11.2014 filed by him before the Tribunal in the case of M/s. SRJ Peety Steels Pvt. Ltd., (supra) which is a sister concern of Shree Om Rolling Mills Pvt. Ltd., we find that the same are identical. We called for appeal folder of M/s. SRJ Peety Steels Pvt. Ltd. (supra) and found that the arguments raised by the Ld. Special AR in the case of the present assessee before us were repeated by the Ld. Special AR. Though the case of the learned Authorized Representative for the assessee was that the issue raised in the present appeal was identical to the issue before the Tribunal in M/s. SRJ Peety Steels Pvt. Ltd. (supra). However, the Ld. Special AR stressed that the issue was at variance and made elaborate submissions. It may be put on record that M/s. SRJ Peety Steels Pvt. Ltd. (supra) is a case of furnace, which is engaged in the manufacture of ingots / billets, whereas manufacturing of TMT bars is carried out by Shree Om Rolling Mills Pvt. Ltd. by using ing ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... al and in the absence of any inquiry / investigation or material collected by the Assessing Officer, the Tribunal held that there was no merit in any addition i n the hands of the assessee in assessment year 2007-08. Further, in assessment year 2008-09, there was no admission of any clandestine removal of material without payment of Excise duty before the Settlement Commission and in the absence of any other inquiry or investigation being carried out by the Assessing Officer or any other evidence being brought on record, the Tribunal held that no addition is warranted in the hands of the assessee. The issue before the Tribunal in M/s. SRJ Peety Steels Pvt. Ltd. was summarized under para 9, which reads as under:- 9. At this stage we are not considering the appeals filed by the Revenue for the reason that those appeals are against the finding of the Ld. CIT(A) that the entire value of alleged suppressed production/sales of Ingots and Billets cannot be treated as income of the assessee and some reasonable percentage of the gross profit is to be estimated. Ld. CIT(A), accordingly, directed the Assessing Officer to adopt gross profit @ 4% on the value of alleged suppressed produc ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... sessing Officer gave reference of the communication and order of the CCE Aurangabad received from the Central Excise office at Aurangabad. 14. The Assessing Officer has also referred to one matter in respect of the action conducted by DGCE (Intelligence) against the few brokers and sub-brokers who were involved in the trading into the Ingot/Billets and TMT Bars. The Assessing Officer also referred to the petition filed by the assessee before the Central Excise and Custom Settlement Commission, Mumbai Bench, Mumbai for waiver of penalty, interest and for getting immunity from a prosecution. The Assessing Officer proceeded to decide the alleged suppression of production by the assessee admittedly which was based on the information received from Central Excise Authority as well as the adjudication Order of the CCE, Aurangabad. It is pertinent to note here that in this case that there was a search and seizure action against the assessee and its group companies by the Income-tax Dept. on 17-03-2006 and in consequence of the search and seizure action u/s. 132(1) the assessments of the assessee have been framed u/s. 153A r.w.s. 143(3) for the A.Ys. 2000-01 to 2006-07. It is also per ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... al Unit, Mumbai in Para Nos. 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 2.7 of the assessment order. So far as action against the brokers and sub-brokers are concerned the Central Excise Authority issued show cause to the assessee as well as the other manufacturers who were involved in clearing the excisable goods without payment of duty. All the manufacturers of the Ingots/Billets and TMT Bars were based in Jalna and the assessee is one of them. As per the investigation done by the Central Excise Authorities, the assessee who is manufacturing of Ingots/Billets supplied 288.500 MT. to Shri Om Rolling Mills Pvt. Ltd. which is engaged in the manufacturing of TMT Bars. The Assessing Officer also referred to a statement of Shri Surendra S. Peety, Managing Director of the assessee recorded on 12-01-2007, by the DGCEI who allegedly admitted that the goods supplied to Shri Om Rolling Mills Pvt. Ltd. i.e. Ingots/ Billets, were removed clandestinely without payment of excise duty and the said material was to extent of 275 MTs. The sale price was received in cash from Shri Om Rolling Mills Pvt. Ltd. and hence, there was no accounting. The assessee admitted the said charge of the Central Excise Authoriti ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... n that the assessee has not given the true and correct picture. The Assessing Officer adopted the suppression of production determined by the CCE, Aurangabad as per his adjudication order and held that the assessee has suppressed the production and accordingly, worked the suppressed production of the A.Y. 2007-08 as under: A.Y. Suppressed Production M.T. Rate per M.T. Rs. Assessable Value of Suppressed Production Rs. 2007-08 20,751 18,892 39,20,37,546 2008-09 29,276 21,444 40,75,72,486 18. In the A.Y. 2007 -08, the Assessing Officer gave the set off of ₹ 8,44,01,504/- which was in respect of the addition made by the Assessing Officer while completing the assessment u/s. 143(3) of the Act in the order dated 31-12-2008 and made the net addition of ₹ 30,76,35,042/-. So far as A.Y. 2008 -09 is concerned no adjustment was made in the A.Y. 2008-09 as it was the regular assessment u/s. 143(3) of the Act. Even though in the A.Y. 2008 -09, the Assessing Of ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... (IIT), Kanpur and has observed that as per the said Technical Opinion Report the consumption of electricity for manufacture of one metric ton of steel ingots varies between 555 to 1026 electricity units depending upon the thermal efficiency, electricity efficiency and nature of mix of raw material. As observed by the Ld. CCE in the case of the assessee as per their electricity bills, the average consumption of electricity for manufacture of 1 MT of MS Ingots varies from 1454 to 1856 units. 19.1 He relying on the Technical report of IIT, Kanpur the Ld. Commissioner observed that on calculating the production of M.S. Ingot/Billets on the basis of consumption of 1026 units (Maximum Limit) of electricity for per MT of MS Ingots produced, it is noticed that there is a huge difference in the actual/normal production and the recorded figures in the assessee s records. The Ld. CCE accordingly, observed that the assessee has willfully suppressed the figures of production of Billets/MS Ingots in their records with an intent to evade payment of Central Excise Duty and, have involved themselves in the clandestine removal of final products. He also referred to the show cause notice iss ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... the order of the Third Member is as under: 20. It is also seen that the Hon'ble Vice President correctly opined that the judgment in R.A. Casting (supra) is squarely applicable in the facts of the instant appeals. In R.A, Casting the electricity consumption was 2072 to 2443 units per MT, which is higher than the average electricity consumption in the instant appeals. 20.1 The Commissioner in the orders impugned in the instant appeals was having the following reports and clarifications for his consideration- (i). 555 to 1046 units PMT as per Dr. Batra's report; (ii). 1800 units PMT as per the report by Joint Plant Committee constituted by the Ministry of Steel, Government of India; (iii). 1427 units per MT as per the report of NISST, Mandi, Gobindgarh given in June-July, 2006; (iv). 650 to 820 units/MT as per Article of the Executive Director, All India Induction Furnace Association, New Delhi (Mr. Varshney); (v). 1000 to 1800 units per Ton or even higher, as per Letters dated 18.3.2008 and 25.4.2008 of same Mr. R.P. Varshney [All India Induction Furnaces Association] informing that his Article prepared in 1989-90 was for Concast St ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... liary load of about 35%, However the Tribunal in categorical terms held that no demand can be upheld based on electricity consumption as such because the clandestine manufacture and removal of excisable goods is to be proved by tangible, direct, affirmative and incontrovertible evidences relating to- (i). Receipt of raw material inside the factory premises, and non-accounting thereof in the statutory records; (ii). Utilization of such raw material for clandestine manufacture of finished goods; (iii). Manufacture of finished goods with reference to installed capacity, consumption of electricity, labour employed and payment made to them, packing material used, records of security officers, .discrepancy in the stock of raw materials and final products; (iv). Clandestine removal of goods with reference to entry of vehicle/truck in the factory premises, loading of goods therein, security gate records, transporters' documents, such as L.Rs, statements of lorry drivers, entries at different check posts, forms of the Commercial Tax Department and the receipt by the consignees; (v). Amount received from the consignees, statement of the consignees, rec ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... that in every case of alleged clandestine removal, the onus is on the Revenue to prove what it alleges with positive and concrete evidence. In the absence of any positive evidence brought by the Revenue to discharge its onus, the impugned order cannot be sustained. 20.8 In the present appeals, none of the so called other evidences referred in the impugned Orders prove clandestine clearance. The primary evidence of department is admittedly excess electricity consumption based on benchmark adopted allegedly-'from report of Dr. Batra, which was already held to be arbitrary by Hon'ble Tribunal in RA casting (supra). Thus, in my opinion the primary evidence relied in the impugned Order is itself inadmissible, and no other evidence in the instant case proves clandestine production and clearance to sustain, the demand, It is contended by Revenue that furnaces installed in the factory of present appellants were in sound condition as compared to R.A. Casting (supra), however I neither could find any material in support of this argument, nor any such finding in the Orders impugned in the appeals. The Revenue sought to rely on an order passed by Tribunal in GuIabchand Silk Mil ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... a Raimana Stone Crushers Company V/s. State of Andhra Pradesh. In the case of Melton India (supra), for the norm, of power consumption, actual electricity consumption of the assessment year 2000-01 was taken as 'norm' and the same was applied in subsequent assessment years 2001-02 and 2002-03.This was followed by the Sales Tax Tribunal in the order cited by Revenue. In the case of Rajmoti Industries, facts of the case are that for the assessment year 2005-06, the Assessing Officer rejected the books of accounts of the assessee and made various additions, not only for the reason of unexplained wide fluctuations in the productivity as compared to that in A.Y. 2004 -05, but also because the assessee therein had not recorded the work-inprogress in the books of accounts. I am therefore of the opinion that these cases, apart from being under Statutes other than Central Excise Act, do not any manner help in sustaining the findings recorded in the impugned Order. In none of these cases any theoretical repot was relied for arriving at deemed production. 24. Further, in Sarvana Alloys Steels Pvt Ltd, 2011- (274) ELT 248 (Tri-Bang.) similar order based on power consumption was h ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Technical Member of CESTAT was a legal order. This plea of the Ld. Special AR was rejected by the Tribunal in view of the decision of Third Member of the CESTAT. 60. Another objection raised by the Ld. Special AR was with reference to the order of Settlement Commission passed in the case of set of companies. The Tribunal noted that the CCE, Aurangabad in its order had taken into consideration the said material while determining the value of alleged suppressed production and had made observations vide para 19. The relevant observations of the Tribunal in M/s. SRJ Peety Steels Pvt. Ltd. (supra) were as under:- 20.1 the Ld. Technical Member of the CESTAT. The Ld. Spl. AR for the Revenue also referred to the order of the Settlement Commission, Mumbai passed in the case of the assessee and other companies. It is true that the assessee approached the Settlement Commission when on the basis of investigation made by the DGCEI against some of the brokers and sub-brokers dealing in the Ingots/Billets and TMT Bars show cause notice was issued to the assessee company and matter was settled. Ld. CCE, Aurangabad in his order has taken in to consideration said matter while determ ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ade by the Revenue but the entire assessments are framed on the basis of the information received from the Central Excise Department as well as the adjudication order passed by the Ld. Commissioner of Central Excise, Aurangabad. Moreover, as observed above the adjudication Order passed by the CCE, Aurangabad has been cancelled by the CESTAT, M umbai by majority opinion and hence, foundation of assessments for A. Yrs. 2007-08 2008-09 do not exist. The law is also well settled that when the assessee files an appeal challenging an order of the lower authority before the higher appellate authority then the entire order gets merged with the order of the higher appellate forum which in the present case is CESTAT. Moreover, investigation by DGCEI and proceeding before the Settlement Commission has also been considered by the CCE, Aurangabad in his adjudication order. The said order was subject matter before the CESTAT and said order has been set aside. Hence, we do not consider it necessary to deal with decisions relied on by Ld. Spl AR of the Revenue which are in context of admission of the Director of the assessee in the course of investigation made by DGCEI more particularly under th ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 7-03-2006 and accordingly the assessment orders for the A.Ys. 2000-01 to 2006-07 were framed u/s. 153A r.w.s. 143(3) of the Act. The Assessing Officer rejected the books of account of the assessee for the A.Ys. 2000-01 to 2006-07 and one of the reasons was that alleged suppressed production which was computed on the basis of consumption of the electricity. The Assessing Officer devised a formula on the basis of electricity consumption and the same was applied uniformly in order to work out certain alleged suppressed production and resultant concealed income in the case of the assessee. The Assessing Officer took 1,600 Units as consumption per MT which was a lowest as shown by the assessee. The Assessing Officer, accordingly, worked out the alleged suppressed production and made the addition in all the years while completing the assessments. In sum and substance the Assessing Officer had simply taken the lowest electricity consumption for a month in a whole year and accordingly worked out the total production as per his formula and on the basis of the formula he worked out the alleged concealed income. There are certain important observations and findings of the Tribunal which are a ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... sessment proceedings under s. 153A of the Act. When nothing incriminating was found in the course of search relating to any of these assessment years, the assessments for such years could not be disturbed on this ground. 33. In view of above factual and legal position we find that the additions in question in asst. yrs. 2000-01 to 2005-06 are not corresponding to the seized material found during the course of search. The relevant IT returns for said years were filed prior to the search in normal course disclosing the particulars of subject-matters were already on record. The returns have already been accepted and no assessment as such could be said to be pending on the date of initiation of search and abated in light of the provisions of s. 153A. 34. Without prejudice to above, with regard to invoking the provisions of s. 145 of the Act, according to which in case the AO is not satisfied about the correctness or completeness of accounts of the assessee or where no method of accounting provided in sub-s. (1) or accounting standards as notified under sub-s. (2), have not been regularly followed by the assessee, the AO may make an assessment in the manner provided in s. 14 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ese years purely on the ground that there has been divergence in the consumption of electricity and application of s. 144 is not at all justified. Accordingly additions have rightly been deleted in asst. yrs. 2000-01 to 2005-06 in both the cases. 23. It is clear from the order of the Tribunal in assessee s own case in the search and seizure matter as it is held that the consumption of electricity for the manufacturing of mild steel ingots/billets depends on various factors and there was no justification to charge the assessee that the assessee has suppressed the production and indulged into unaccounted production. The order of the Tribunal was challenged by the Department before the Hon'ble High Court of Bombay Bench at Aurangabad by filing the appeal u/s. 260A of the Income-tax Act, being Tax Appeal No. 30 of 2011. The Revenue s appeal was dismissed vide common Judgment dated 10-02-2014, in the case of the assessee and other companies by the Hon'ble High Court and there are categorical observations of their Lordships on the estimation of the production based on the consumption of the electricity which are as under: 4. In that regard, the Tribunal as also the C ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ramed in consequence of the search and seizure operation but the important fact remains that nothing was found during the course of search except few loose sheets found in the residence of the Director to make out a case against the assessee for alleged suppression of production or sales. It is also to be taken note of the fact that in A.Ys. 2007-08 and 2008-09, no investigation has been done by the Revenue which are immediate next assessment years after the search and seizure operation against the assessee company and hence, in our opinion above findings and observation of the Tribunal as well as the Hon'ble High Court are also important to decide the present appeals more particularly on the additions based on consumption of electricity. 65. The Tribunal vide para 24 took note of the fact that in assessment years 2007-08 and 2008-09, no investigation was done by the Revenue after the search and seizure operations in the immediately preceding year, wherein during the course of search, certain loose sheets were found in the residence of the Director to make out case against the assessee for alleged suppression of production / sales. The Tribunal while deciding the appeal ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... any. 11. The Customs, Excise Service Tax Appellate Tribunal categorically held that the electricity consumption could not be criteria to determine the output laid down in R.A. Castings, where the appeal of the Revenue was dismissed by the Hon'ble Apex Court as reported in 2011 (269) ELT A -108 (SC). The basis for the addition in the present case was the investigation report of the Central Excise Department and the suppression in production calculated by the said Investigating Team. The Assessing Officer had completely based its addition on the aforesaid report of the Investigating Team and had also show caused the assessee to establish its point in view of the said report of the Investigating Team. The Customs, Excise Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (supra) in the appeal filed by the assessee and its Director has categorically held that no cogent evidence has been brought on record to prove that the output had been cleared clandestinely. Further it has been held that there was no cogent evidence to show either suppression of purchase of input or removal of goods. In view of the aforesaid findings of the Customs, Excise Service Tax Appellate Tribunal in assess ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... h the assessment years. We find that the only reason for rejection of the books of account was the alleged suppression of production/sales and which was determined on the basis of the adjudication order passed by the CCE, Aurangabad as well as the consumption of the electricity used in the manufacturing of the Ingots/Billets relying on the technical opinion of Dr. Batra, IIT, Kanpur. No othe r reasons are given by the Assessing Officer. We have already held that the Assessing Officer was not justified in making the additions towards alleged suppression of production/sales. We, therefore, hold that the rejection of the books of account on above reason cannot be upheld. We, accordingly, allow Ground No. 7 in the A.Y. 2007 -08 and Ground No. 5 in the A.Y. 2008 -09. 28. The next issue is the percentage of the gross profit estimated by the Ld. CIT(A) on the alleged suppressed sales and said issue arises from Ground No. 9 in the A.Y. 2007 -08 and Ground No. 7 in the A.Y. 2008 -09 are on. As the assessee has succeeded on the main grounds as entire additions made by the Assessing Officer are deleted, the Ground No. 9 in the A.Y. 2007 -08 and Ground No. 7 in the A.Y. 2008 -09 become i ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... erein the submissions made before the Tribunal in M/s. SRJ Peety Steels Pvt. Ltd. (supra) have been verbatim repeated in the appeal filed against the assessee before us i.e. Shree Om Rolling Mills Pvt. Ltd. 69. We find that the Assessing Officer in the present case before us had made the addition on account of erratic consumption of electricity based on the consumption of electricity as per US standards. The Assessing Officer had not adopted the US standards in entirety, but had allowed a credit of 25% and work the addition. The addition in the hands of sister concern M/s. SRJ Peety Steels Pvt. Ltd. was made on the basis of the report of one Dr. Batra with regard to electric consumption and the Third Member of CESTAT had deleted the aforesaid addition made under the Excise law. However, in the case of assessee before us, there is no order of CCE, Aurangabad or of CESTAT and the Assessing Officer worked out the addition on the basis of erratic consumption of electricity vis- -vis the consumption as per US standards after giving benefit of 25%. Following the same line of reasoning as in the order of M/s. SRJ Peety Steels Pvt. Ltd. (supra), we find no merit in the addition made ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... sing Officer is on pure estimates, conjuncture and surmises and the same cannot be accepted. We hereby delete the same. 72. Another aspect of the issue in relation to the addition on account of suppressed production, raised before us is that where the Assessing Officer had evidence of clandestine removal of material without payment of Excise duty, the addition could be upheld in the hands of the assessee by extrapolating the sales for period of 300 days. The Ld. Special AR for the said proposition relied on the decision of the Tribunal in assessee s own case relating to assessment year 2006- 07. The case of the Revenue before us was that where the assessee had admitted to clandestine removal of material without payment of Excise duty before the Settlement Commission for part of the period, then in view of the order of the Settlement Commission and also since the assessee had admitted to additional income on such account before the Assessing Officer, the sales for the entire year should be extrapolated. The basis for declaration of clandestine removal of material without payment of Excise duty was on account of search and seizure proceedings conducted by DGCEI on certain broke ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e duty and suppression of income. 73. The evidence of clandestine removal of material without payment of Excise duty was detected by the Excise authorities during the course of search and seizure operation on certain brokers, however, no search and seizure operation was carried out against the assessee. In order to buy peace of mind, the assessee declared the said amount vide petition before the Settlement Commission, which has been accepted by the Settlement Commission in toto. The Ld. Special AR objected to the plea of assessee that declaration was to buy peace of mind, but we find no merit in the same, since the object of moving petition before the Settlement Commission is to settle the dispute. In cases where any settlement petition is moved by the claimants, the authorities have the power to re-visit the offer made by the claimant and where any adverse material is available against the person making the offer, then the figures of settlement can be increased. However, in the case of the assessee, offer of the assessee has been accepted for the financial year and the same cannot be said to be restricted to the number of days for which it was offered. The basis of any settl ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ssions of the assessee that following the same ratio, extrapolation of sales for the assessment year 2007-08 should be made in the hands of the assessee, in view of the settlement petition by the assessee before the Settlement Commission. The perusal of the assessment order and the order of CIT(A) reflects no such basis was adopted for making the addition in the hands of the assessee. The sole basis on which the addition in the hands of the assessee made was on account of erratic consumption of electricity. Undoubtedly, both the aspects i.e. the petition made by the assessee before the Settlement Commission pursuant to search conducted by the DGCEI and also the other basis i.e. erratic consumption of electricity, were before the Assessing Officer. However, the Assessing Officer adopted the second issue in the hands of the assessee and made the aforesaid addition, which we in the paras hereinabove had already deleted. The Ld. Special AR pointed out that the said action of the Assessing Officer was one of the methodologies for working out the additional income of the assessee. We find no merit in the stand of the Ld. Special AR since no investigation or inquiry was carried out by the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e find no merit in the reliance placed upon by the Ld. Special AR in this regard. The addition at best is to be restricted to the additional income offered by the assessee. 79. In our considered opinion, the issue in hand is to be decided on the basis of findings of the Assessing Officer and CIT(A) and the Tribunal cannot traverse beyond the orders of Assessing Officer and CIT(A). Admittedly, the parties can raise an additional plea before the Tribunal justifying the addition. However, the said plea has to be decided keeping in mind the facts of the case. Though both the Assessing Officer and CIT(A) had not made the addition in the hands of the assessee on the basis of petition filed before the Settlement Commission, but had adopted the erratic consumption of electricity as basis to make the addition, we have adjudicated the alternate plea raised by the Ld. Special AR in this regard and dismissed the same. 80. Now, we come to the reliance placed upon by both the Authorized Representatives in support of individual proposition vis- -vis the addition on account of extrapolation of sales for the period of 300 days. 81. The Ld. Special AR further relied on series of de ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ation of turnover and estimation of gross profit merely on guess work and presumption was not sustainable in law. No details were available to the Assessing Officer to arrive at such figure or had there been any concealed sales for 9 months, it could have been detected by the Central Excise authority during their search operations. Therefore, the addition made by the Assessing Officer is purely based on guess work, presumption and surmises and not on the basis of any material found during the course of search operation carried out by the Central Excise authorities. Such addition based on hypothetical calculation of turnover and estimation of GP on presumption and surmises were not sustainable. The Tribunal distinguished the ratio laid down in CST Vs. H.M. Esufali H.M. Abdulali (supra). The Ld. Special AR relied on the said decision and in view of the decision of coordinate Bench on similar issue as before us, we find no merit in the reliance placed upon by the Ld. Special AR. 85. The Ld. Special AR during the course of arguments before the Tribunal in Miscellaneous Application filed in M/s. SRJ Peety Steels Pvt. Ltd. vide MA No.17/PN/2015 had raised the issue of extrapolation ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... s-placed. The Hon ble Bombay High Court in the said decision considered the scope of assessment under Chapter XIV-B and held that what is to be assessed under the said Chapter is undisclosed income of the block period and not the total income or loss of the previous year required to be assessed under regular assessment under section 143(3) of the Act. The Hon ble Bombay High Court held that such regular assessment stands on a different footing in contrast to the exercise undertaken by the Assessing Officer under Chapter XIV-B, where the Assessing Officer had to assess only the undisclosed income. However, the Hon ble Bombay High Court further held that under Chapter XIV-B, the Assessing Officer cannot estimate the undisclosed income on an arbitrary basis. We find no merit in the plea raised by the Ld. Special AR in this regard as the facts of the said case are different from the facts of the present case. 42. Even on merits, the Revenue has no case against the assessee. The reliance placed upon by the Ld. Special AR on the ratio laid down in assessee s own case relating to assessment year 2006-07 is misplaced as the addition in the hands of the assessee in that year was made ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... to the facts of the present case. It may be put on record that all these decisions were relied upon by the Ld. Special AR in M/s. SRJ Peety Steels Pvt. Ltd. (supra) and same have already been considered. 88. In the entirety of the above said facts and circumstances, we hold that no extrapolation of sales for 300 days can be made in the hands of the assessee on the basis of the evidence found for clandestine removal of material without payment of Excise duty for few days, which in turn, has been admitted by the assessee by way of filing petition before the Settlement Commission, which in turn, has also been accepted by the Settlement Commission. Merely because the Settlement Commission accepted the claim of the assessee of additional Excise duty payable on the said clandestine removal of material without payment of Excise duty does not establish the case of the Revenue that the said figures of additional production should be utilized for extrapolating the sales in the hands of the assessee for the entire year. Admittedly, the assessee had offered additional income on the said clandestine removal of material without payment of Excise duty, which is to be added as income in the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... equivalent to profits on suppressed production @ 4% or actual GP rate declared by the assessee whichever was higher. In view thereof, we pass this corrigendum order and the para 88 i.e. from line 17 to 22 would now be substituted by following para. 88. Admittedly, the assessee had offered additional income on the said clandestine removal of material without payment of Excise duty, which is to be added as income in the hands of the assessee. The learned Authorized Representative for the assessee fairly admitted that in case the said additional income has not been added while computing the income in the hands of the assessee for the respective years, the same may be directed to be added in the hands of the respective assessee in respective years. Accordingly, we direct the Assessing Officer to verify from the records for the respective years and include the additional income on account of such admitted clandestine removal of material without payment of Excise duty, by the assessee either before the Settlement Commission or before the Excise authorities, in the hands of the assessee. Accordingly, we direct the Assessing Officer to verify from the records for the respective ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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