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Download eBook on Survey, Search & Seizure under ... - TaxGuru

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| 84 | Voice of CAQ. 11 Is it advisable to give answer to every questi<strong>on</strong> by saying, ‘I do notremember because of the c<strong>on</strong>fused state of my mind created due tothe sudden raid’?Ans. It is neither advisable nor in the interest of the assessee to deliberatelyanswer every questi<strong>on</strong> by repeating “I do not remember” or “I d<strong>on</strong>ot know”. He may lose the opportunity of explaining several itemsof assets, which he can otherwise do. Besides, he may run the riskof prosecuti<strong>on</strong> in case <strong>on</strong> the basis of c<strong>on</strong>temporaneous evidencerecovered subsequently during the search it appears that the factswere within the knowledge of the assessee, which he declined todisclose. It would be <strong>on</strong> the other hand, advisable to take the helpof the books of account and other documents and give all possibleinformati<strong>on</strong>, which is readily available. However, in genuine caseswhere it is not practicable to remember certain facts with certaintyor minute details of transacti<strong>on</strong>s particularly those of several pastyears, the assessee may <strong>on</strong>ly explain their nature, if possible and addthat he would be able to furnish the details and explanati<strong>on</strong>s afterlooking into record. A statement made <strong>on</strong> the spot in support of hisexplanati<strong>on</strong> has greater evidentiary value.Q. 12 What remedy is available to a genuine depositor of the m<strong>on</strong>eywhen the search takes place against a pers<strong>on</strong> with whom thedeposit is made, e.g., with a car dealer with whom initial depositof m<strong>on</strong>ey is made for booking the car or with a m<strong>on</strong>eylender withwhom the ornament or jewellery may be pawned as security forloan?Ans. Proceedings with the presumpti<strong>on</strong> that the deposit is genuine andthe assessee against whom the search proceedings are taken, is ableto establish its genuineness during the course of the search itself,any seizure or restraint of the deposit would be ab initio void, Itis also well settled that even the restraint <strong>under</strong> secti<strong>on</strong> 132(3) canbe made <strong>on</strong>ly after the authorised officer is satisfied that the asset,in questi<strong>on</strong>, wholly or partly, is c<strong>on</strong>cealed income or wealth. Theassessee and/or the depositor can always approach the authorisedofficer either during the course of search itself with the necessaryevidence and claim that no seizure is called for or they can approachthe authorised officer even after seizure; but within 15 days of the

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