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Tax officers mentioned this was a survey, not a search
New Delhi:
Revenue Tax officers searched the BBC’s Delhi and Mumbai workplaces on Tuesday and seized telephones and laptops, weeks after a large controversy over the UK nationwide broadcaster’s documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the lethal sectarian riots in Gujarat in 2002.
The taxmen sealed off the workplaces for a “survey” linked to alleged diversion of earnings and irregularities in switch pricing involving the BBC (British Broadcasting Company).
Sources say, the Revenue Tax authorities are checking account particulars courting way back to 2012.
“The Revenue Tax Authorities are at the moment on the BBC workplaces in New Delhi and Mumbai and we’re absolutely cooperating. We hope to have this example resolved as quickly as attainable,” the BBC tweeted.
The Revenue Tax Authorities are at the moment on the BBC workplaces in New Delhi and Mumbai and we’re absolutely cooperating.
We hope to have this example resolved as quickly as attainable.
— BBC Information Press Workforce (@BBCNewsPR) February 14, 2023
Paperwork had been seized and telephones and laptops of journalists had been taken away. Staff had been allowed to go away six hours after the searches started, solely after their laptops had been scanned. Visuals confirmed some staff arguing with the officers.
The officers used the key phrase “tax” to seek for info on the desktops after asking staff to log in, a BBC journalist informed NDTV.
BBC, in a memo to workers, requested these not in workplace to remain away. It has additionally requested its workers to keep away from commenting on social media on the searches.
Tax officers insisted that this was a survey, not a search, and that the telephones can be returned.
“We wanted some clarifications and for that our crew is visiting BBC workplace and we’re finishing up a survey. Our officers have gone to verify account books, these aren’t searches,” Revenue Tax sources asserted, including that they requested the BBC’s finance division for particulars of stability sheets and accounts.
The opposition accused the federal government of concentrating on the BBC for airing a documentary crucial of PM Modi over the riots that swept Gujarat in 2002, when he was Chief Minister. The Editors Guild of India mentioned the raids had been a part of a wider “pattern of utilizing authorities businesses to intimidate or harass press organisations which are crucial of presidency insurance policies”.
The 2-part collection, “India: The Modi Query”, was taken down from public platforms final month. The Centre used emergency powers below IT Guidelines to dam YouTube movies and Twitter posts sharing hyperlinks to the documentary. The federal government slammed the documentary as “hostile propaganda and anti-India rubbish”.
Opposition leaders and college students protested towards what they known as blatant censorship by organising public screenings of the documentary, which led to clashes on campus between college students, school authorities and the police.
“Right here we’re asking for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani-Hindenburg row, and there the federal government is hounding BBC. Vinash Kaale Viprit Buddhi (when one is doomed, one makes mistaken choices),” commented Congress chief Jairam Ramesh.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra jibed in a tweet: “Stories of Revenue Tax raid at BBC’s Delhi workplace. Wow, actually? How surprising.”
“When a authorities stands for concern and oppression as an alternative of fearlessness, then one ought to realise the top is close to,” wrote Samajwadi Get together chief Akhilesh Yadav in Hindi.
The ruling BJP tore into the BBC for what it known as “venomous, shallow and agenda-driven reporting” and mentioned the Revenue Tax division needs to be allowed to do its job. “No particular person or company may be above the regulation. If they’re working in India, they should comply with Indian regulation. In the event that they haven’t completed something unlawful, then what is the fear? Why are the opposition events defending the company for affordable and petty politics,” mentioned BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia. He additionally mocked the BBC as “Bhrasht, Bakwas Company (Corrupt, nonsensical company)”.
Final week, the Supreme Courtroom rejected a request for an entire ban on BBC in India over the documentary, calling the petition “completely misconceived”.
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