New Delhi, Feb 14, 2023: A team of 15 officials from the Income Tax Department conducted survey operations at the offices of the BBC in Delhi and Mumbai on Tuesday.
Sources said the searches at the BBC offices were related to allegations of International Taxation and Transfer Pricing irregularities.
The department is looking at documents related to the business operations of the company and those related to its Indian arm, officials told PTI.
यहां हम अडानी के मामले में JPC की मांग कर रहे हैं और वहां सरकार BBC के पीछे पड़ी हुई है।
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 14, 2023
’विनाशकाले विपरीत बुद्धि’
: @Jairam_Ramesh जी pic.twitter.com/PvQ57tMTVP
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.
According to the details, the mobile phones of the employees were seized and they were asked to go home, while those working on the afternoon shift at the BBC’s Delhi office were asked to work from home.
Two people looking after the Urdu services, along with the finance department officials were inside the office premises, they said.
The BBC has two offices in Mumbai - one at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and another one at Khar.
The IT officials were present at the BKC office premises, while the employees at the BBC’s Khar office were asked to go home.
The development comes weeks after the broadcaster aired a two-part documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots and India.
BBC OFFICES SEARCHED - POLITICAL PARTIES REACT
Meanwhile, Congress reacted to IT officials reaching out to the BBC offices and said, "The government is after the BBC while here we demand a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) on the Adani matter."
The party also posted a video of AICC General Secy Shri Jairam Ramesh, showing what he said in response to a question on I-T officials visiting the BBC’s Delhi office.
Congress’ Gaurav Gogoi too took to Twitter and wrote, "At the time India holds the Presidency of the G-20 nations, PM Modi continues to brazenly show India’s slide into authoritarianism and dictatorship. Raids on BBC, clean chit to Adani, tax cuts for rich, people’s homes being bull dozed, inequality and unemployment on the rise."
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said the reports of raids at the BBC offices is similar to an emergency.
TMC’s Mahua Moitra also took to Twitter and wrote, "Reports of Income Tax raid at BBC’s Delhi office. Wow, really? How unexpected."
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti wrote, "Cause & effect of raids on the BBC Office is quite obvious. GOI is brazenly hounding those who speak the truth. Be it opposition leaders, media, activists or anyone else for that matter. The gloves are off & there is a price one pays for fighting for truth."
Courtesy: India Today