आदेश/ORDER

PER GEORGE GEORGE K, VICE PRESIDENT:

These five appeals at the instance of different assessee’s are directed against five separate orders of CIT(A), Chennai-18, all dated 16.10.2024, passed under section 250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter called ‘the Act’). The relevant Assessment Year is 2017-18.

2. The common issue is raised in these appeals, hence, they were heard together and are being disposed off by this consolidated order.

3. The solitary issue raised is whether CIT(A) is justified in confirming penalty imposed u/s.270A of the Act.

4. Brief facts are as follows:-

The assessees in these cases are brothers and partners in M/s Pothys group. A search u/s.132 of the Income Tax Act was conducted in the case of M/s. Pothys P.Ltd on 18.10.2016. Consequent to search, notice u/s.153C r.w.s 153A was issued to the assessees. For assessment year 2017-18, assessment was completed u/s.153C r.w.s. 153A r.w.s 143(3) vide order dated 18.11.2019. A common addition was made for all these assessees for AY 2017-18 u/s.56(2)(vii)(b)(ii) of the Act. All the five assessees during the previous year relevant to concerned assessment year 2017-18, had jointly purchased a property at Kanc