The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey operation at the BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion, officials said.
The surprise action comes weeks after the broadcaster aired a two-part documentary, India: The Modi Question.
The action, it is learnt, was initiated by the director general of the Income Tax Department in Mumbai across three premises.
The synchronised surprise action began at 11 am with I-T officials reaching the BBC offices in Delhi and in Mumbai. BBC staffers were asked to keep their phones at a particular spot inside the premises, officials said.
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The department is looking at documents related to the business operations of the London headquartered public broadcaster and its Indian arm, they said.
The investigation is linked to international taxation issues of BBC subsidiary companies, sources indicated.
As news spread, onlookers and media crews were seen outside the BBC office at central Delhi’s Kasturba Gandhi Marg. In Mumbai, the office is in Santa Cruz.
As part of a survey, the Income Tax Department only covers the business premises of a company and does not raid residences and other locations of its promoters or directors.
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The Congress took a swipe at the government over the operation at the BBC offices, saying while they are demanding a JPC on the Adani issue it is after the BBC.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also used a Hindi idiom to attack the government, saying “Vinash Kale, Vipreet Buddhi” (When doom approaches, a person’s intellect works against his interest).
“Here we are demanding JPC on the Adani issue but the government is after the BBC. Vinash Kale Viprit Buddhi,” Ramesh said.
Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said the IT raid at BBC’s offices “reeks of desperation and shows that the Modi government is scared of criticism”.
“We condemn these intimidation tactics in the harshest terms. This undemocratic and dictatorial attitude cannot go on any longer,” he said in a tweet.
