New Delhi: The survey of the Income Tax Department continued till the night of 14-15 February in BBC’s Delhi and Mumbai offices. The officers of the Income Tax Department kept on investigating throughout the night. Although it is expected that even today the team of Income Tax Department can investigate in the office. At the same time, reaction has also come from the US side on this matter. The United States has made a public statement regarding the BBC IT Raid on the BBC offices in Mumbai and Delhi. US State Department spokesman Ned Price told the media that the US is aware of the survey campaign conducted by the Income Tax Department at the BBC IT Survey in Delhi, but is not in a position to give its verdict. BBC is accused of irregularities in international tax.
BBC tweeted information
While giving information about this matter, BBC had told that the team of Income Tax Department (BBC Income Tax Team Survey) is present in Delhi and Mumbai office. We are giving them full cooperation. The survey work is still going on. Work has also started in the office. After the officials of the Income Tax Department reached the BBC office, the leaders of the opposition tried to surround the government. In a tweet, the Congress party termed this action as an undeclared emergency.
The income Tax Department team reached the Delhi-Mumbai office
BBC’s office is on the fifth and sixth floor of HT Tower in Delhi’s KG Marg area. Here a team of 24 people from the Income Tax Department conducted a survey. The Income Tax Department team also reached BBC Studios in Santacruz area of Mumbai. The team seized mobiles, laptops and desktops of the people of the Finance Department. The officers said that they will be returned after taking their backup.
Tax keywords used
A BBC journalist told NDTV that after asking staff to log in, officials used tax keywords to search for information on desktops. The BBC has asked all its staff to refrain from commenting on social media. About 6 hours after the search started, the employees were allowed to go only after scanning their laptops. The documents of the employees were also seized.
Press Club of India condemns the action of the Income Tax Department
While the Press Club of India condemned IT surveys in BBC offices. On the other hand, Union Minister Anurag Thakur responded by saying that the Income Tax Department conducts surveys from time to time where irregularities are found and when the survey is completed, they give information. When this survey of IT will be completed, we will give you all that information in detail.
Editors Guilt of India’s reaction
EGI is deeply concerned about the IT “surveys” being carried out at the offices of BBC India. Is distressed by the continuing trend of government agencies being used to intimidate and harass news organizations that are critical of the ruling establishment.
