ITAT Orders Fresh Probe into Rs.50 Lakh Cash Robbery Case, Asks Department to Verify Farmers’ Claims

ITAT orders fresh probe into ₹50 lakh cash robbery case, asking the department to verify farmers’ claims for authenticity. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has directed the tax department to conduct a fresh investigation into a ₹50 lakh cash robbery case. The assessee claimed the cash belonged to various farmers and was intended for agricultural produce procurement, but the Assessing Officer had added the entire amount to the assessee's income citing lack of credible documentation. The ITAT criticized the tax authorities for not summoning farmers for cross-verification and relying on assumptions, emphasizing the department's obligation to verify claims fairly, including land ownership, sale transactions, and bank trails, before making additions to income.