The move follows raids by the Income Tax Board on the BBC’s offices in New Delhi and Mumbai in February.
Posted on – Thu 13 Apr 23 at 06:36pm
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has filed charges against BBC India under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) for foreign funding violations.
Official sources said the action was taken to investigate BBC India’s foreign funding irregularities, money transfers and violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (FEMA).
The move follows an income tax investigation at the BBC’s offices in New Delhi and Mumbai in February this year.
The broadcaster has come under the radar of Indian establishments after releasing a controversial documentary “India: The Modi Problem”, which drew sharp criticism from the Indian government and damaged the country’s image.
The Education Department had also earlier issued a summons to the BBC seeking an investigation into the matter, following an investigation by the Income Tax Department.
An officer from the BBC’s administrative and editorial services is being questioned at ED headquarters.
In January, the government directed social media platforms to block YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the documentary as soon as it became controversial.
The documentary questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role in the 2002 Gujarat riots and was widely criticized by the Indian government and parts of the Indian public.
The BBC faces accusations of spreading fake news and propaganda, with the Indian government accusing the broadcaster of trying to destabilize the country.
