The Income Tax Department has reached BBC offices across multiple locations in the country for a survey. The 'survey raids' started since 11:30 am.
Conflicting reports have emerged about the mobile phones of employees being taken away by the officials. According to the latest information, the tax sleuths also went through the data from the computer in the accounting department. All employees have been prohibited from stepping outside.
According to sources in the Income Tax department, the officials have visited the BBC office for verification for a survey.
Reacting to the I-T raids, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said, "Here we are demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into allegations against Adani and the government is running after the BBC." "Vinash Kale Viprit Buddhi (When one's destruction time comes, they think in the most negative manner)," he added.
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.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by the Hindu Sena seeking a complete ban on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and BBC India from operating from Indian territory in the wake of airing a documentary on PM Modi.
The petition was filed by Hindu Sena President Vishnu Gupta.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and MM Sundersh dismissed the petition by terming it as "absolutely misconceived", the Live Law reported.
Hearing the plea, Justice Khanna said, "This is totally misconceived".
The top court had on February 3 also directed the central government to produce original records relating to its decision to block the BBC documentary.
On January 21, the government issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial documentary.
(With inputs from Ankit and Manoj Verma)