Tax survey at BBC: Teams of officials from the Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted ‘surveys’ at the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai. As per media report, surveys are being conducted at multiple locations. The IT department is currently verifying the documents related to the business operations of the company and those related to its Indian arm.
Documents seized, phones confiscated
The “survey” is being carried out after allegations of international taxation and transfer pricing irregularities involving the BBC. Around 20 tax officials searched the BBC’s Delhi office. Mumbai office of BBC which deals with productions was also searched.
“We needed some clarifications and for that our team is visiting BBC office and we are carrying out a survey. Our officers have gone to check account books, these are not searches,” Income Tax sources asserted.
BBC documentary on PM Modi
BBC was recently in news after its two-part contentious series “India: The Modi Question” was banned by the Centre. The Centre, using emergency powers under the Information Technology Rules, 2021, directed blocking of multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts that displayed the documentary.
The opposition Congress accused the government of targeting BBC over the documentary critical of PM Modi.
“Here we are asking for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani-Hindenburg row, and there the government is hounding BBC. Vinash Kaale Viprit Buddhi (when one is doomed, one makes wrong decisions),” commented Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
Taking a jibe at the at the Narendra Modi-led government, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, “Reports of Income Tax raid at BBC’s Delhi office. Wow, really? How unexpected.”
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