In the case of Shiv Bhagwan Gupta vs ACIT, ITAT Patna has held that:
“The assessee has filed return u/s 139 showing income of Rs. 2808270/-The assessee has disclosed income of Rs.2179221/- during the year on account of undisclosed jewellery. Penalty u/s 271AAB is initiated.”
A perusal of the above reproduced relevant part of the assessment order reveals that the assessing officer has not mentioned about unearthing of any undisclosed income as defined u/s 271AAB of the Act during search action carried out at the premises of the assessee. In my view, the income declared by the assessee in the return of income or found or ITA No.194/Pat/2019 A.Y.2015-16 Shiv Bhagwan Gupta Vs. ACIT, C.C.-1, PAT Page 10 assessed by the Assessing officer in the assessment proceedings may be relevant for assessment of the income under section 68 /69 and other related provisions of the Act and also for the levy of penalty under section 271(1)(c) of the Act in view of the relevant provisions of section 68/69 and 271(1)(c) of the Act. However, for the levy of penalty u/s.271AAB, the case must fall within the four corners of the definition of expression “undisclosed income” as defined u/s 271AAB itself. The assessee in this case is an individual and has earned income from partnership firm and interest income. The assessee has neither earned any business income nor earned any income exceeding Rs.50 lakhs so as to require mandatory filing of personal assets and liabilities or to maintain books of accounts; even the assessee is not required to otherwise disclose any such income to the Principal Chief Commissioner or Chief Commissioner or Principal Commissioner or Commissioner before the date of search; the alleged income is not any income represented, either wholly or partly, by any entry in respect of an expense recorded in the books of account or other documents maintained in the normal course. Assessee has neither made any surrender of any undisclosed income during the search action nor the penalty has been initiated on the basis of undisclosed income found during such search action. In view of the above factual position, the impugned order of the AO imposing the penalty on the assessee under section 271AAB of the Act does not pass the mandate of the provisions of section 271AAB of the Act, therefore, the same being bad in law is hereby quashed.
In the result, the appeal of the assessee stands allowed.
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