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Judgment
Heard learned Counsel for the appellant and learned Counsel for the respondent. In the above appeal, the Revenue is seeking to raise the following substantial questions of law:
4(a). Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Tribunal is right in holding that the notional interest should not be charged in spite of the fact that the borrowed funds were utilized for non-business purposes?
(b) Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Tribunal is right in holding that cash deposited in the bank account is explained and, therefore, it should not be treated as unexplained cash credit and should not be added to the income of the respondent?
The relevant assessment year is 1997-98.
We have perused the order of the Tribunal. The finding recorded by the Tribunal in paragraph No. 7 is that the assessee is in the business of financing is not disputed by the Revenue. The dispute of the Revenue is against the non-charging of interest on some of the interest-bearing amounts advanced to some concerns. A finding is accordingly recorded by the Tribunal in this connection.
The interest-free loans were given by the assessee as a prudent businessman with certain commercial and business purpose in mind. The interest-bearing funds in the present case has been used for the purpose of business. A businessman cannot be expected to and does not make profit out of each and every transaction entered into by him.
Thereafter, the Tribunal has given a finding that the interest-free advances of Rs. 1,54,20,945 given represents only 8.8 per cent, of loans aggregating to Rs. 17,52,67,529. The above finding is merely a finding of fact.
As regards the second question, during the course of assessment it was found that the assessee had deposited cash of Rs. 7,25,000 on August 5, 1996, and the explanation given by the assessee was that it was advance against the sale of air-conditioning units received from different parties. The Tribunal after considering the explanation and confirmation has given a finding to the effect that the ledger account of the parties in the books of account have duly been confirmed by mentioning "We hereby confirm the above statement". The above findings are merely findings of fact and there are no substantial questions of law involved.
The appeal, therefore, devoid of any merit is dismissed with no order as to costs.