India’s Income Tax Department has conducted "surveys" at the British Broadcasting Corporation's (BBC) offices in Delhi and Mumbai, media reports said on Tuesday.
There was no immediate statement either from the Indian authorities or the BBC regarding the reported searches.
“Documents were seized, and phones and laptops of journalists were taken away," Indian media reported, adding that the BBC offices would be sealed until the surveys are completed.
BBC Behind Political Controversy in India
Last month, the BBC released a 58-minute documentary featuring the 2002 Gujarat communal riots, sparking a massive row in India: the film targets Indian PM Narendra Modi’s role as Gujarat state chief at the time.
Following Tuesday's surveys, bitter critics of the Modi government, namely Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, and Trinamool Congress parliamentarian, Mahua Moitra, turned to crticize the federally governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the developments.
Jairam Ramesh said, “Here, we are demanding a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) on the Adani issue, but the government is after BBC.”
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued directions to block multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial documentary.
The government of India said the documentary had been found to be “undermining the sovereignty and integrity of India” and has “the potential to adversely impact” the country’s “friendly relations with foreign states” and “public order within the country.”