New Delhi: The Income Tax Department Tuesday conducted a survey operation at the BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion, officials said.
The surprise action comes weeks after the broadcaster aired a two-part documentary, “India: The Modi Question”.
The action, it is learnt, was initiated by the director general of the Income Tax Department in Mumbai across three premises.
The synchronised surprise action began at 11 am with I-T officials reaching the BBC offices in Delhi and in Mumbai. BBC staffers were asked to keep their phones at a particular spot inside the premises, officials said.
The department is looking at documents related to the business operations of the London headquartered public broadcaster and its Indian arm, they said.
The investigation is linked to international taxation issues of BBC subsidiary companies, sources indicated.
As news spread, onlookers and media crews were seen outside the BBC office at central Delhi’s Kasturba Gandhi Marg. In Mumbai, the office is in Santa Cruz.
As part of a survey, the Income Tax Department only covers the business premises of a company and does not raid residences and other locations of its promoters or directors.
This comes amid a controversy over the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Last week, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain a PIL filed by Hindu Sena seeking a ban on the BBC for airing the documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ on the 2002 Gujarat riots.
A bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna said the court cannot impose censorship and the plea was misconceived.
The bench, also comprising Justice MM Sundresh, queried senior advocate Pinky Anand, representing the petitioner, “Completely misconceived, how can this be argued also? You want us to put complete censorship.”
The counsel urged the bench to hear the petitioner. The bench said, “What is this (the petition)?” The counsel had pressed that the matter should be heard.
–PTI