(1.) M/s. Dhabaleswar Traders, a partnership firm, has approached this Court invoking provisions of Sec. 80 of the Odisha Value Added Tax Act, 2004, assailing the Order dtd. 11/5/2017 passed by the Odisha Sales Tax Tribunal in Second Appeal bearing No. 80 (V) of 2016-17 partly allowing the appeal filed by the dealer-petitioner against the Order dtd. 22/4/2016 passed by the Additional Commissioner of Sales Tax (Appeal), South Zone, Berhampur in the first appeal bearing No. AA(VAT) 41 of 2015-16 arising out of Assessment framed vide Order dtd. 19/8/2015 under Sec. 43 of said Act, 2004 read with Rule 50 of the Odisha Value Added Tax Rules, 2005 by the Joint Commissioner of Sales Tax, Ganjam Range, Berhampur pertaining to the tax periods from 1/3/2009 to 31/3/2012.
(2.) The assessee-petitioner being a registered dealer under the Odisha Value Added Tax Act, 2004 (for short referred to as 'OVAT Act'), carries on its business in edible oil, pulses, dal, sugar, coconut oil, vanaspati ghee and wheat on wholesale-cum-retail basis. On the allegations contained in the Fraud Case Report bearing No.12/2011-12 submitted by the Assistant Commissioner of Sales Tax, Enforcement Range, Berhampur, proceeding for assessment under Sec. 43 of the OVAT Act was initiated. Consequent upon participation of the dealer in the said proceeding and furnishing explanation(s) in respect of the objection/allegation, the Joint Commissioner of Sales Tax, Ganjam Range, Berhampur (for brevity referred to as 'Assessing Authority') passed Assessment Order dtd. 19/8/2015 by raising demand to the tune of Rs.1,57,878.00 comprising tax of Rs.52,626.00 and penalty of Rs.1,05,252.00 imposed under Sec. 43(2).
(3.) Still aggrieved, the petitioner-dealer, with a prayer to set aside the Order-in-Second Appeal dtd. 11/5/2017 (Annexure-3) moved this Court by way of instant revision under Sec. 80 of the OVAT Act, and posited the following questions of law: