The ITAT set aside a penalty of Rs. 15 lakhs imposed under...

The ITAT set aside a penalty of Rs. 15 lakhs imposed under section 271D for alleged violation of section 269SS. The Tribunal found that the loan amount was disbursed through banking channels and duly confirmed by both the NBFC and the concerned party. The ITAT held that section 269SS applies only to actual acceptance of money and not to liabilities recorded through journal entries, as the legislative intent is to prevent cash transactions. The provision is restricted to monetary transactions and does not extend to cases where debt or liability arises merely through book entries. Following precedents from the Bombay HC, Delhi HC, and other judicial authorities, the Tribunal concluded the transaction was outside the ambit of section 269SS and deleted the penalty.