Third-party loose sheets require independent corroboration before supporting unexplained investment additions for alleged on-money property purchases.
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....For unexplained investment in property purchases, an addition under section 69 cannot rest solely on an unauthenticated loose sheet seized from a third party. The notes state that the sheet was unsigned, not part of regular accounts, inconsistent with registered conveyance and banking records, and unconnected to the assessee or sellers. Without proof of the document's author, independent seller enquiries, evidence of on-money receipt, a cash trail, or other corroboration, the Revenue does not discharge its burden to prove understated consideration. Loose sheets or dumb documents are not substantive evidence by themselves, and suspicion cannot replace proof. The addition was deleted; issues concerning section 153C validity, the satisfaction note, and cross-examination remained open.....
TaxTMI