Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Feb 15: The Income Tax department continued its overnight inspection of the BBC’s Delhi and Mumbai offices, according to reports.
According to the news agency IANS, they are anticipated to continue through Wednesday morning.
Around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, I-T representatives appeared at the broadcaster’s offices in the two metro areas. Some laptops and cell phones were seized by officials, who promised to release them after ‘backing them up.’
The BBC’s New Delhi office, which is located on two floors of a high-rise on KG Marg in the heart of Delhi, was cordoned off by police.
“It could be linked to TDS (tax deduction at source), foreign taxation… There could be several issues. The raids are still ongoing,” a source in the tax department said.
He also added that a clear picture will emerge once the survey is over. A survey under I-T rules involves the inspection of a business premises.
The BBC stated that it is working with authorities to swiftly remedy the issue.
The developments occur soon after a broadcaster in the UK aired a documentary about the riots in Gujarat in 2002.
Journalist organisations and opposition parties have criticised the I-T activity harshly, alleging that it violates press freedom and targets democracy itself. The BBC programme is a part of a “anti-Modi plot,” according to the BJP.
On Tuesday, the United States stated that it was aware of the survey operation carried out by the Indian tax officials at the BBC headquarters in Delhi but was unable to comment.
