Dominant issue: whether the provisional attachment under the...

Dominant issue: whether the provisional attachment under the Benami Transactions Act was supportable by evidence of a benami arrangement. The Tribunal held that the Initiating Officer bore the burden of proof and failed to adduce independent, admissible evidence (relying instead on Income-tax material and Section 131 statements) to pierce the corporate veil or show benefit passed to a beneficial owner; the target companies' own profitable business and assessed returns supported legitimate share allotment. Consequence: confirmation of the provisional attachment was rightly denied and the appeals dismissed. - AT