In view of the factual position and the background of the instant matter and in view of the legal prepositions as culled out from the judicial pronouncements referred to above, we are unable to uphold the stand taken by the ld. CIT(A) for rejecting the claim of the assessee for deduction Under Section 80M of I.T.Act. We do so on the following grounds also:
18. The core issue in this case is related to the property of the assessment. The AO repeatedly called for books assessee did not produce the same and came for relief a the higher level. If this is allowed, the provisions of section 143(3), 142(1) and 144 will become otiose. This has a support from the ratio laid down by Delhi High Court in the case of CIT v. Motor General Finance Ltd 254 ITR 449, in which it was held " As the assessee could not produce any document in this regard an adverse inference in terms of section 114 of the Evidence Act should be drawn to the effect that had those documents been produced the same would have gone against the interest of the assessee".
The perusal of the above clearly shows that if the Revenue brings some direct or circumstantial evidence and the relevant information is within the special knowledge of the assessee then in the absence of disclosure of such information by the assessee, adverse inference can be drawn against the assessee. The Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of CIT v. Motor General Finance Ltd. (2002) 254 ITR 449 (Del) has held that if the assessee does not furnish the information/material in his possession then adverse inference can be drawn against the assessee. The relevant observations are quoted below :
"For the parity of reasons and as the appellant did not get effective
opportunity to support his claim, the matter of all the three
disallowances is remanded back to the assessing officer for taking a
decision afresh with a direction to find out whether the borrowed
moneys or part of it have been utilized for non-business purposes
and what is the quantum thereof that is attributable to the investment
in shares or advances made interest free. He shall also pass a
speaking order as to how the explanation of the appellant that such
investment or advances were made out to interest free funds
5 ITA Nos.3467 & 3444/D/2004
available with them cannot be accepted. He shall have regard to the
ratio laid by the Tribunal in Meenakshi Synthetics (P) Ltd. supra.
He shall however, give effective and reasonable opportunity of being
heard to the assessee before raising any presumption or drawing any
adverse inference. The assessing officer shall also consider the
board's circular no.11/2001 dated 23.7.2001 in respect of investment
in shares etc. before attracting provisions of Section 14A of the
I.T.Act inserted by the Finance Act 2002 w.e.f. 11.5.2001 and
application of sub section 5 of Section 115(o) of the Act before
quantifying any disallowance on account of interest if any. The
assessee shall cooperate."
"For the parity of reasons and as the appellant did not get effective
opportunity to support his claim, the matter of all the three
disallowances is remanded back to the assessing officer for taking a
decision afresh with a direction to find out whether the borrowed
moneys or part of it have been utilized for non-business purposes
and what is the quantum thereof that is attributable to the investment
in shares or advances made interest free. He shall also pass a
speaking order as to how the explanation of the appellant that such
investment or advances were made out to interest free funds
5 ITA Nos.3467 & 3444/D/2004
available with them cannot be accepted. He shall have regard to the
ratio laid by the Tribunal in Meenakshi Synthetics (P) Ltd. supra.
He shall however, give effective and reasonable opportunity of being
heard to the assessee before raising any presumption or drawing any
adverse inference. The assessing officer shall also consider the
board's circular no.11/2001 dated 23.7.2001 in respect of investment
in shares etc. before attracting provisions of Section 14A of the
I.T.Act inserted by the Finance Act 2002 w.e.f. 11.5.2001 and
application of sub section 5 of Section 115(o) of the Act before
quantifying any disallowance on account of interest if any. The
assessee shall cooperate."