Taxmen At BBC Offices For 2nd Day After All-Night Searches
NDTV
The BBC had been served notices in the past but had been "defiant and non-compliant", the sources claimed.
Searches at the BBC's offices in Delhi and Mumbai continued all night, spilling over to the second day as Income Tax officials investigated alleged tax evasion by the UK national broadcaster, weeks after it aired a documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the deadly sectarian riots in Gujarat in 2002.
The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) has sent an email to its employees urging all but its broadcast department to work from home. "Employees can refrain from answering questions on personal income if asked so. They should answer other salary-related queries," said the broadcaster, advising the staff to "answer questions comprehensively".
Amid fierce opposition condemnation of the searches, the US said it is aware of the survey but is "not in a position to offer judgement".
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said: "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."
