Published On 15 Feb 202315 Feb 2023|Updated: 14 hours agofacebooktwitterwhatsapp
Indian tax officers have searched the BBC’s offices in New Delhi and Mumbai for a second straight day, with the British broadcaster saying it was “fully co-operating” with the authorities.
“Questions about BBC’s structure, activities, organisation, and operations in India are within the remit of the investigation,” said an internal email sent by Liliane Landor, director of BBC World Service, to the employees on Wednesday.
The BBC management told editorial and other staff members to work from home after they were able to leave the office on Tuesday night, said staff who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to talk to media.
There was no overnight break in the search and investigators scanned the desktops of some employees who were earlier told not to use their phones and keep them aside, the staff members said on Wednesday.
A New Delhi-based BBC employee said officials…
2023-02-15 21:00:04
Original from www.aljazeera.com
Over the last few days, Indian tax authorities have been conducting a search of BBC offices across the country, in connection with allegations of foreign exchange irregularities.
The search began on Wednesday and has continued throughout the week, with more than 20 offices being searched. The offices are located in cities ranging from New Delhi to Mumbai to Bangalore. According to news reports, the searches have been focusing mainly on documents.
Sources from the Indian tax authority said that the searches were conducted as part of a routine operation to investigate alleged violations of foreign exchange rules. The BBC has said that they are cooperating with the investigation, and that they are confident that they are in full compliance with Indian law.
The search of BBC offices comes at a time when the Indian government is increasingly cracking down on companies and individuals who are not in compliance with local laws and regulations. In particular, the Indian government is focusing on foreign entities that may be participating in illegal activities in the country, including tax evasion and avoidance.
As the investigation continues, it remains unclear if any violations of Indian law have been discovered. However, it is clear that the Indian government is taking a proactive stance on ensuring that all entities operating in the country follow local laws and regulations.
The investigation of the BBC offices is a reminder that all companies operating in India, regardless of their size or nationality, must be aware of local laws and regulations and adhere to them. Otherwise, they risk facing significant penalties, including the possibility of criminal prosecution.