Ashim Talwar vs Additional Commissioner of Income Tax

PER SATBEER SINGH GODA RA, JM:

These assessee’s twin appeals i.e., ITA Nos. 972 & 973/Del/2026 arise against Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (for short, ‘learned CIT(A)’), Delhi’s orders both dated 31.10.2025, passed in DIN & Orders no. ITBA/APL/S/250/2025-26/1082196996(1) & ITBA/APL/S/250/2025-26/1082196505(1), involving proceedings u/s 271DA of the Income Tax Act, 1961; hereinafter referred to as, ‘the Act’.

Cases called twice. None appears at the assessee’s behest. He is accordingly proceeded ex-parte.

For the reasons stated in the assessee’s condonation averments, delay of 29 days in filing of the instant appeals is condoned in light of Collector, Land & Acquisition vs. Mst. Katiji & Others (1987) 167 ITR 471 (SC).

Learned senior DR Miss Priyanka Durbey, vehemently submits during the course of hearing that the Assessing Officer as well as the CIT(A) herein have rightly levied the impugned section 271DA penalties which form the sole subject matter of tribunal’s adjudication herein.

We have given our thoughtful consideration to the assessee’s and the Revenue’ respective pleadings against and in support of the impugned identical section 271DA penalties. We make it clear that the impugned penalty provision gets attracted in an instance when the assessee concerned is found to have “received” any sum in specified transaction in contravention of the provisions of section 269ST of the Act. The Revenue’s case all along is that the penalty(ies) herein deserves to be upheld as the same is based on the relevant seized material as per the departmental search action dated 03.02.2021 in M/s Samir Modi group of cases. A perusal of the case records reveals that the learned Assessing Officer in assessee’s connected quantum appeal ITA No. 1065/Del/2026 for assessment year 2021-22 observes that the departmental authorities recorded search statement of Shri Amit Upreti admitting the corresponding identical sums including the ones herein as “received from” Shri Ashim Talwar/ appellant than that paid to him. This clinching factual position has gone unrebutted from the Revenue side. We, accordingly of the considered view that both the learned lower authorities have erred in law and on facts in invoking the impugned penalty provision in the assessee’s case. This identical penalty u/s 271DA herein stands deleted in very terms therefore.

All other remaining pleadings between the parties on merits stand rendered academic.

These assessee’s twin appeals ITA Nos. 972 & 973/Del/2026 are allowed in above terms. A copy of this common order be placed in the respective case files.