2016 (10) TMI 12 - HC - VAT and Sales Tax

Court affirms Tax Board's decision on vehicle interception for tax evasion

Assistant Commercial Taxes Officer, Flying Squad, Alwar (Raj.) Versus Hari Om Traders and Rajasthan Tax Board, Ajmer

Assistant Commercial Taxes Officer, Flying Squad, Alwar (Raj.) Versus Hari Om Traders and Rajasthan Tax Board, Ajmer - TMI Issues:Interception of vehicle carrying goods for potential tax evasion, validity of penalty imposed by the assessing officer, relevance of registration with Delhi Sales Tax Department, interpretation of transportation route, sufficiency of evidence provided by the driver/incharge, applicability of Section 78(5) in the case, adequacy of decision-making process by the Tax Board, reliance on past judgments for legal arguments.Interception of Vehicle and Tax Evasion:The judgment revolves around the interception of a vehicle carrying goods, suspected of tax evasion, in the State of Rajasthan. The driver and incharge of the vehicle presented documents indicating the transportation of goods from Delhi to Mandsore (MP), passing through Rajasthan. The assessing officer imposed a penalty of &8377;30,000 based on the suspicion of tax evasion due to discrepancies in the bills and lack of registration of the parties with the Delhi Sales Tax Department.Validity of Penalty and Route Interpretation:The petitioner contended that the Tax Board decided the matter summarily without considering the forged and fabricated nature of the bills. However, the respondent argued that the goods were legitimately transported from Delhi to Mandsore (MP) and the interception in Rajasthan was unnecessary as the goods were not intended for that state. The court analyzed the evidence provided by both parties to determine the actual route and purpose of transportation.Applicability of Section 78(5) and Decision-Making Process:The respondent's counsel relied on past judgments to support the argument that since the goods were destined for Mandsore (MP), the penalty under Section 78(5) for tax evasion was not applicable. The court scrutinized the decision-making process of the Tax Board, emphasizing the importance of confronting the respondent with all relevant information before reaching a conclusion.Sufficiency of Evidence and Legal Precedents:Despite discrepancies in the bills, the court found that the evidence supported the transportation of goods from Delhi to Mandsore (MP). The court upheld the Tax Board's decision, noting that the respondent had adequately explained the transportation route and purpose. The judgment dismissed the revision petition, citing the absence of merit and alignment with past legal precedents cited by the respondent's counsel.