Burden of proof for unexplained credits lies on the assessee in...

Burden of proof for unexplained credits lies on the assessee in whose books the entries appear; the assessee must prove identity, creditworthiness and genuineness of creditors, failing which additions are sustainable. Evidence from search records and sworn statements established that the assessee functioned as a conduit for accommodation entries, so AO's additions treating credits as unexplained were restored. The CIT(A)'s view that protective additions fall because beneficiaries faced substantive additions was rejected; liability for unexplained credits attaches independently to the booked assessee, and consequential additions for parallel undisclosed cash routing were upheld.

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