Day 3: I-T Department questioned BBC over financial transactions, subsidiaries
The Income Tax Department's alleged survey at the British Broadcasting Corporation's (BBC) offices in Delhi and Mumbai entered its third day on Thursday. Reportedly, the BBC's senior management is being questioned about financial transactions, foreign taxation, and transfer pricing rules. Since the survey began, nearly ten senior BBC employees have not gone home, NDTV reported.
Why does this story matter?
The raids by the I-T Department came just weeks after the Central government banned the controversial BBC documentary India: The Modi Question, labeling it colonial propaganda. Meanwhile, I-T officials claimed that the raids were part of a tax evasion investigation. Last week, the Supreme Court officially dismissed a plea by Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta seeking a total ban on BBC in India.
I-T sleuths gathering financial data, other documents from BBC
According to NDTV, I-T officials are obtaining financial data from BBC and making copies of the papers. The department sleuths are also reportedly collecting facts concerning financial transactions, overseas taxation, and transfer pricing policy. Documents pertaining to the operations of BBC subsidiary companies are also reportedly being gathered. Notably, the I-T Department's survey action has already completed 50 hours since Tuesday.
Images of paramilitary personnel guarding BBC office during the survey
Tax survey on BBC may end today: Report
Following the raid, BBC has asked its employees to work from home until further orders so that its news broadcasting operation doesn't suffer. Although there is no official confirmation as to when the exercise will end, India Today reported that the department has permission to conduct the survey for three days only. However, authorities said the operation's closing rests entirely on the ground team.
I&B Minister Anurag Thakur's first reaction
Reacting to the backlash from the Opposition over the raid, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur said that no one is above the law of the country. "The I-T Department conducts surveys from time to time where irregularities are found and when the survey work is completed, it issues a detailed press note," he said.
Operation invites criticism; UK and US tight-lipped
Soon after the survey at the BBC's offices started on Tuesday, various political organizations and media bodies condemned the raids, including the Editors' Guild of India (EGI). However, the BJP's spokesperson, Gaurav Bhatia, termed the BBC "the most corrupt organization in the world." The United States (US) made no comments on the situation and the United Kingdom government said it's "closely monitoring" it.
SC rejected PIL seeking complete ban on BBC in India
Last Friday, the Supreme Court of India rejected an appeal seeking a complete ban on BBC in the country for its documentary on PM Modi and its allegations regarding the 2002 Gujarat riots. An SC bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Sanjiv Khanna called the PIL, filed by the Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta, "completely misconceived."
