BBC raid: Income Tax department survey of BBC India offices continues for second day

The Income Tax department survey operation against the BBC India continued for the second day with the sleuths understood to be making copies of electronic and paperbased financial data of the organisation officials said WednesdayThe tax department had launched the action on Tuesday at the BBCs Delhi and Mumbai offices along with at least two linked premises as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion against the British broadcaster in IndiaSleuths knocked at the doors of the BBC around 1130 AM on Tuesday and they are still present sources aware of the development told PTIThe tax officials are speaking to staffers of the BBC in the finance and some other departments even as other staffers and journalists were allowed to leave Tuesday nightSome computer peripherals and mobile phones were cloned as part of the operation officials had saidAlso Read BBC raid We are aware of the raid cannot offer any judgement says USThe action which sparked a sharp political debate with the ruling BJP accusing the BBC of venomous reporting and the opposition questioning the timing of the move came weeks after the broadcaster aired a twopart documentary India The Modi Question on the prime minister and the 2002 Gujarat riotsThe survey is being carried out to investigate issues related to international taxation and transfer pricing of BBC subsidiary companies officials had said on TuesdayWhile there has been no official statement from the Income Tax department on the action the British Broadcasting Corporation BBC has said it was cooperating with the authoritiesThe Income Tax Authorities remain at the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai Many staff have now left the building but some have been asked to remain and are continuing to cooperate with the ongoing enquiries a BBC News Press Team said in a official Twitter post at 1026 pm on TuesdayWe are supporting our staff during this time and continue to hope to have this situation resolved as soon as possible Our output and journalism continues as normal and we are committed to serving our audiences in India the post addedAs 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 directorsThe Supreme Court last week dismissed a plea seeking the imposition of a complete ban on the BBC in India in the wake of the controversial documentary terming the petition entirely misconceived and absolutely meritlessAnother set of petitions challenging the governments decision to block the documentary will be heard in April nextOn January 21 the government issued directions to block multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the documentaryThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever