BBC I-T Survey HIGHLIGHTS: Income Tax Action At BBC's Mumbai, Delhi Offices End After Nearly 60 Hours
BBC IT Raid LIVE: The Income Tax Department has conducted surveys at the offices of BBC across the country. Follow this space for
LIVE
Background
BBC I-T Raid LIVE Updates: The Income Tax Department has carried "survey raids" in BBC offices at several locations across the country including Delhi and Mumbai. The raids come close to heels with the documentary released by the British broadcaster on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat Riots.
According to sources in the Income Tax department, the officials have visited the BBC office for verification for a survey.
Teams of Mumbai Police have also been deployed outside the premises in Mumbai to anyone from leaving or entering. It has also been learnt that apart from Delhi and Mumbai 'survey raids' are being conducted in other parts of the country as well.
Last month, the British Broadcating Corporation had released a two-part documentary series titled 'India: The Modi Question' which examines the 2002 Gujarat riots, in which thousands of people were killed and millions left homeless, particularly within the Muslim community. The documentary aims to explore the role played by the government of then-chief minister Narendra Modi during the riots.
The first episode of the documentary aired on Tuesday, January 17. The second part of the docu-series was scheduled to be broadcast on January 24, two days ahead of India's Republic Day.
The Centre criticised the documentary calling it a "propaganda piece" and questioning the purpose and the agenda behind it.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said the BBC documentary has "not been screened in India" and "lacks objectivity".
The Indian government had issued directions for blocking multiple videos and tweets sharing links to the documentary.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued orders for blocking multiple YouTube videos of the first episode of the BBC Documentary on PM Modi and the 2002 Gujarat Riots. It also asked Twitter to block over 50 tweets with links to these YouTube videos.
Sharing the information on Twitter, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Kanchan Gupta on Saturday said that the documentary is ‘hostile propaganda and anti-India garbage’.
The move was met with criticism by the Opposition parties with Congress calling it "censorship".
Income Tax Survey Ends After Nearly 60 Hours
Income Tax officials exit BBC office on Delhi's KG Marg as the survey on the BBC offices in Mumbai and Delhi ends after almost 60 hours.
#WATCH | Delhi: Income Tax officials come out of the BBC office in Delhi's KG Marg as the Income Tax department survey on the BBC offices in Mumbai and Delhi concludes after almost 60 hours. pic.twitter.com/hQ2zjPvQGa
— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2023
Some People Trust Foreign News Outlets But Not Indian Probe Agencies: Kiren Rijiju
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday hit out at those criticising the Income Tax survey at the offices of BBC, saying some people trust foreign news outlets but not Indian investigative agencies. (PTI)
Income Tax Survey Continues At BBC Offices On Day 3, Say Sources
ITBP Personnel Deployed Outside BBC Office In Delhi
ITBP personnel have been deployed outside the BBC office on KG Marg in Delhi.
Delhi | ITBP personnel deployed outside BBC office at KG Marg. pic.twitter.com/4zCPdvsePH
— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2023
ITBP Personnel Deployed Outside BBC Office In Delhi
ITBP personnel have been deployed outside the BBC office on KG Marg in Delhi.