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BBC tax survey: “Gloves are off,” says opposition, BJP hits back

February 14, 2023
Bharat Times

Around 20 tax officials searched the Delhi office of BBC.

New Delhi:

Weeks after a major controversy over the UK national broadcaster’s documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and allegations related to the 2002 Gujarat riots, income tax officials arrived at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai for a “survey”, with opposition leaders criticizing the Centre, and called the action ‘predictable’, ‘a sign of panic’ and a sign ‘their end is near’.

However, the BJP slammed the British broadcaster, calling it the ‘most corrupt organization in the world’. The ruling party also attacked the Congress, saying it supports “anti-India” statements.

“If any company or organization is operating in India, they have to follow the Indian law. If you are following the law then why are you scared? The IT department should be allowed to do its job. BBC India Most corrupt organization. World. BBC’s propaganda matches the agenda of the Congress,” BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said at a press conference.

Mr Bhatia further said “the history of BBC has been dark, tarnished and anti-India”, and asked the Congress to remember that Indira Gandhi had once banned the broadcaster.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra scoffed “how unexpected”, linking it to US-based short-seller Hindenburg Group’s allegations of manipulation of Adani Group shares. He said that when Adani visits the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) office, he serves him breakfast. Ms Moitra has been demanding a probe by the stock market regulator into Adani group companies for a long time.

“Report of Income Tax raid at Delhi office of BBC

Wow really? How unexpected

Meanwhile Farsan Sewa for Adani when he comes for a chat with Chairman @SEBI_India office,” he tweeted.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that while they are demanding JPC (Joint Parliamentary Inquiry) in the Adani case, the government is going after BBC. ,Destruction Black Opposite Wisdom (When one’s destruction draws near, they think unwisely),” he said.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP KC Venugopal condemned the action, saying the raids ‘smell of desperation’.

“The IT raids on the BBC’s offices smell of desperation and show that the Modi government is afraid of criticism.

We strongly condemn these tactics of intimidation. This undemocratic and dictatorial attitude cannot go on any longer.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “Their (BJP’s) end is near”.

He tweeted in Hindi, “When the government and the administration become symbols of fear and oppression instead of fearlessness, then it should be understood that their end is near.”

Mehbooba Mufti of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said the government was “shamelessly chasing” those who “spoke the truth”.

“The cause and effect of the raid on the BBC office is quite clear. The Government of India is pursuing those who speak the truth. Be it opposition leaders, media, activists or anyone else. To fight for the truth,” she said.

CPI(M) MP John Britts called it predictable, and wondered how UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would react.

“Wasn’t this predictable? What would Rishi Sunak’s reaction be?” he tweeted.

CPI’s Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam called it a “killing spree of a fearful government to strangle the voice of truth”.

“Raid on BBC! They call it survey! This survey is murdering fearful government. To strangle the voice of truth. The world is watching it. When Modi presides over G-20, he will stop press freedom” But will ask about India’s record.” Can he give the full answer of the truth? (sic),” he tweeted.

Sources said the searches were carried out in the wake of “deliberate non-compliance of transfer pricing rules by the BBC and large-scale diversion of profits to international taxation”.

“In the case of BBC, there has been persistent non-compliance of the above mentioned regulations over the years. As a result of the same, several notices have been issued to BBC. However, BBC has been persistently disobedient and non-compliant and important Their profits have literally been diverted.

The main focus of these surveys has been on price rigging for unauthorized benefits including tax benefits. These surveys have been conducted because of BBC’s consistent non-compliance of rules, of which it has become a repeat offender,” said official sources.

Around 20 tax officials searched the Delhi office of BBC. In Mumbai, BBC Studios, which deals with the production, were searched.

The sources said documents were seized and phones and laptops of the journalists were taken away. The offices will be sealed for the duration of the survey, and employees have been asked not to share details with anyone.

Tax officials said it was a survey, not a search, and that the phones would be returned.

Income Tax sources said, “We needed some clarification and for that our team is visiting BBC office, and we are conducting a survey. Our officers have gone to check the ledger, it is not a search.”

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

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