2019 (2) TMI 181
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....f the Income Tax Act, 1961, (for short 'the Act') and also approved under Section 80G(5)(vi) of the Act vide proceedings dated 16.08.2010. The trust was created with an avowed object of public and charitable purposes, namely, medical relief, education, any other causes of public utility etc. It is stated that the respondent-trust is running an Engineering College. 4. A survey was conducted under Section 133A of the Act, in the premises of School of Human Genetics and Population Health (SHGPH), Kolkata by the Investigation Wing on 27.01.2014. It appears, during the said survey the appellant has noticed a donation entry of Rs. 37,00,000/- (Rupees Thirty-Seven Lacs) in two tranches in the months of February and March, 2013. It is the allega....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....gs, the primary authority, by order dated 15.03.2016, in exercise of power under Section 12AA(3) of the Act, has cancelled the registration of the respondent-trust. The inference drawn and as mentioned in paragraphs 7.3 and 8 of the order reads as under: "7.3 Based on the facts and circumstantial evidences as discussed in Para 1 to 6, it can be inferred: a) The assessee trust had allegedly received huge sum over a period of seven years starting from A.Y. 2009-10 to A.Y. 2015-16 in the garb of corpus/non-corpus donation. In reality the donors were returned back the money in cash. This was done through web of financial transactions. All evidences show that through these alleged donations the assessee trust actively helped in....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....on 12AA(3) is invoked and registration granted u/s 12AA is withdrawn/cancelled w.e.f 01.04.2008 from the starting of financial year, when the society was found to be involved in money laundering through receipt of bogus donation, ingenuine activities and not carrying out activities as per object of the trust." 8. Aggrieved by the order of cancellation dated 15.03.2016, the respondent-assessee has filed an appeal before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, at Kolkata 'B' Bench in Income Tax Appeal No.597/KOL/2016. The appellate authority, by recording a finding that, though the statement of the donor was made basis for initiating proceedings for cancellation of registration of the respondent-trust, but the respondent was not given an opport....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....by the learned counsel for the appellant that there is a serious allegation against the respondent-assessee in indulging in money laundering. It is submitted that the alleged donation from School of Human Genetics and Population Health (SHGPH) is absolutely bogus and it is clear from the evidence gathered during the survey that the said donation is made by collecting the amount in cash from the respondent-assessee. It is submitted that in view of the allegations made by the respondent-assessee that it was not given the opportunity to cross-examine the representative of the donor whose statement was relied upon in cancellation proceedings, only to give an opportunity, the appellate tribunal has remanded the matter to the primary authority. I....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....xempted and the respondentassessee has used all the donations for the purpose of promoting the objects of the trust. 13. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties, we have perused the order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions), Kolkata; the appellate-authority and the order impugned in this appeal. In the proceedings initiated for the cancellation of registration, mainly it was the case of the respondent-assessee that proceedings for cancellation were initiated only on the ex-parte statement of the representative of the donor, without giving any opportunity to the assessee. It is further submitted that though a survey was also conducted on the respondent-assessee, but nothing adverse was found during such survey t....
TaxTMI