The Income Tax Department’s survey operation against the BBC on Wednesday was extended for a second day. The IT department conducted a survey on Tuesday at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai to investigate tax evasion allegations against the British broadcaster in India.
Sleuths entered the BBC offices around 11:30 am on Tuesday, and they are still present, and the search operation is continuing, sources said.
The income tax officials are in constant touch with the staff of the finance department and other departments at BBC. However, other staff and journalists were given permission to leave the premises on Tuesday night.
The tax officials are speaking to staffers of the BBC in the finance department and some other departments, even as others and journalists were allowed to leave Tuesday night.
Backups of many computers and mobile phones were taken during the operation, officials said.
According to sources, the tax authorities’ operation is being referred to as a “survey,” rather than a “raid” or “search.”The exercise takes place at regular intervals, and it can’t be called a search or raid.
The action against the BBC has turned out to be a political war. The BJP has accused the BBC of malicious reporting, but the opposition has expressed concern about the timing of the move. The BBC was responsible for releasing a two-part documentary, “India: The Modi Question,” on PM Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots, which caused controversy.
The government ordered the YouTube videos and Twitter posts containing documentary links to be blocked.
The Supreme Court urged the central government on February 3 to produce original records relating to its decision to block the BBC documentary.
