Income Tax survey operation will continue for the 2nd day at the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai.
The UK government is ‘closely monitoring’ the situation as the BBC said some of its staff have been asked to remain at their Delhi and Mumbai offices to cooperate with the ‘ongoing enquiries’ of the Income Tax authorities on Tuesday.
“The Income Tax authorities remain at the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai. Many staff have now left the building, but some have been asked to remain and are continuing to cooperate with the ongoing enquiries,” a BBC spokesperson said in a statement.
In New Delhi and Mumbai, officials said the surveys were being carried out to probe issues related to international taxation and transfer pricing of BBC subsidiary companies, and alleged that the broadcaster was served with notices in the past, but was “defiant and non-compliant” and had significantly diverted its profits.
The action comes weeks after the UK-headquartered public broadcaster aired a controversial two-part documentary in the UK, India: The Modi Question, referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Earlier this month, the top court, acting on pleas, had asked the Centre to produce original records related to its decision to block the BBC documentary on PM Modi.
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