The Indian Earnings Tax Division Friday revealed that they uncovered irregularities within the BBC’s accounting books following a search of the broadcaster’s workplaces. In an announcement, the tax authority mentioned {that a} survey motion was carried out throughout the broadcaster’s Delhi and Mumbai workplaces which discovered “a number of discrepancies and inconsistencies” relating to the corporate’s tax declarations. The assertion didn’t consult with the BBC by title and as a substitute referred to a “outstanding worldwide Media Firm” which developed content material in English, Hindi and different Indian languages.
The survey motion discovered that earnings and earnings reported by the BBC’s group entities are “not commensurate with the size of operations in India.” It additionally discovered that the corporate had not been paying tax on sure remittances which had not been reported in India by the international entities. The operation collected “essential evidences by means of assertion of workers, digital evidences and paperwork,” which might be examined as a part of the investigation.
The BBC confirmed that the search had concluded and that the BBC was cooperating with Indian authorities on the matter. The BBC mentioned, “The BBC is a trusted, unbiased media organisation and we stand by our colleagues and journalists who will proceed to report with out concern or favour.”
The three-day operation follows reviews that the Indian Authorities tried to block the BBC documentary collection “India: the Modi Question” from being shared on-line. A number of shops have condemned the operation as an assault on unbiased media freedom following the controversy surrounding the documentary. Reporters With out Borders denounced the Indian authorities’s actions, stating:
These raid have all the looks of a reprisal towards the BBC for releasing a documentary vital of Prime Minister Narendra Modi three weeks in the past. They’ve come at a time when unbiased media are being hounded an increasing number of, and when pluralism is shrinking in India as a result of elevated media focus. It’s important that worldwide media just like the BBC can proceed to function in India with out being harassed, and that the rights of journalists and, specifically, the confidentiality of their sources, are revered on this investigation.
The documentary was banned in India, and a petition was filed within the Supreme Court docket searching for to ban the BBC and examine their workers and “anti-Indian authorities” reporting. The Supreme Court docket dismissed the petition in early February, stating that the “misconceived” petition sought to impose censorship.
