The IT raids, which the BJP regime has labeled as surveys, are continuing for the second straight day at the BBC's (British Broadcasting Corporation) offices in Delhi and Mumbai, amid sharp flaks with the United States and United Kingdom governments reacting to the searches. As the raids have come weeks after BBC released its documentaries about Modi's arbitrary premiership and his involvement in the 2002 Gujarat riots that killed thousands of Muslims, the searches have come under scrutiny. 

The sleuts of the Income Tax department had stormed the BBC's offices in Delhi and Mumbai on Tuesday. In a closely-watch raid, the IT department has said that the searches across the BBC's offices are conducted over allegations of irregularities in international taxation and transfer pricing. As part of the raids, the department is sifting the documents pertaining to the business operations of the BBC and those related to its Indian unit.  

ANI has quoted the sources saying that the Income Tax officials reached BBC's Delhi and Mumbai offices today (Tuesday). They are doing verification of certain documents in the Account of Finance Department of the BBC. Department has impounded a few mobile phones, laptops, and desktops of the employees of account and finance departments. In the midst of criticisms from the opposition parties and the journalistic bodies, the raids are underway for the second straight day on Wednesday. 

The officials said that the IT sleuths are in the process of making copies of electronic and paper-based financial data of the organisation. An official in the know had said that the raids could be linked to Tax Deduction at Source (TDS), foreign taxation and there could be several issues. The raids are still ongoing and that the department will be issuing an official statement after the raids. 

As the events have made headlines, the BBC put out its first response amidst the searches and tweeted, "The Income Tax Authorities are currently at the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai and we are fully cooperating. We hope to have this situation resolved as soon as possible." The raids have also drawn reactions globally, particularly from the United States and the United Kingdom, where the BBC is headquartered. 

ANI has quoted the sources in the UK Government saying that the government is closely monitoring reports of tax surveys conducted at the offices of the BBC in India. The United States on Tuesday said it is aware of the survey conducted at the BBC offices by the Indian tax authorities and refrained from offering its judgment. The United States had also said that it will keep supporting the importance of free press around the world.

Addressing a news conference in Washington, US State Department's Spokesperson Ned Price said, "We are aware of the search of the BBC offices in Delhi by Indian Tax authorities. I would need to refer you to Indian authorities for the details of the search. We support the importance of free press around the world. We continue to highlight the importance of freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief as human rights that contribute to strengthening democracies around the world." 

"It has strengthened this democracy here in this country. It has strengthened India's democracy", Ned Price added. Back in India, the criticisms from the opposition parties were intense. One of India's top journalistic bodies, Editor Guild of India said that it is deeply concerned about Income Tax surveys at offices of BBC India. The agency has called the searches as continuation of trend of using government agencies to intimidate and harass media outlets critical of ruling establishment.

Congress Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi wrote, "At the time India holds the Presidency of the G-20 nations, PM Modi continues to brazenly show India’s slide into authoritarianism and dictatorship. Raids on BBC, clean chit to Adani, tax cuts for rich, people’s homes being bull dozed, inequality and unemployment on the rise." Samajwadi party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav called raids at BBC offices 'a declaration of ideological emergency'. On the other hand, BJP said that BBC is a corrupt organisation and its documentary 'India: The Modi Question' is a part of anti-Modi plot. 

Income Tax survey operation will continue for the 2nd day at the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai: Sources pic.twitter.com/uF2BBVu6QK

— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2023