New Delhi: Income Tax Department’s ‘survey operation’ in the offices of BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation); It ended on Thursday after running for more than 60 hours. The officers provided this information. In the meantime, officials collected financial data from select employees and made copies of the news organization’s electronic and paper records. Sources said the Income Tax Department, as part of its probe into alleged tax evasion, conducted a ‘survey operation’ at BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai at around 11.30 am on Tuesday. Started and ended tonight in Delhi.
Officials called ‘PTI-Bhasha’ informed that tax officials have made an inventory of available stock, recorded statements of some employees and seized some documents as part of the survey operation. He told that this survey lasted for about 58-60 hours. He had said that the survey teams are seeking answers on financial transactions, company structure and other details about the news company and copying data from electronic devices to collect evidence. Opposition parties condemned the Income Tax Department’s action against the BBC, calling it a “political vendetta” has told.
The two-part documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ This surprise action came a few weeks after it aired. A heated political debate has started between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition parties regarding this survey. The timing of this action has been questioned by the opposition, while the BJP has accused the BBC of “poisonous reporting” against India. charged to. No official statement has been issued by the Income Tax Department on this action.
At the same time, the BBC said that it is cooperating fully with the Income Tax authorities. A BBC staffer in Delhi said that they are broadcasting news as usual. ‘Survey Operation’ Under the Income Tax Department, the Income Tax Department inspects only the business premises of the company and does not conduct raids at the residences and other places of its promoters or directors.
The Supreme Court had last week dismissed a petition seeking a complete ban on the BBC in India in the wake of the controversial documentary. More petitions challenging the government’s decision to block access to the documentary on social media platforms will be heard in April. On January 21, the government issued instructions to block several YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the documentary.
