ED files a FEMA case against BBC India, more employees questioned

The BBC released a two-part documentary titled India: The Modi Question in January this year covering such events as the 2002 Gujarat pogrom, the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 and again in 2019, the abrogation of the autonomy of J&K soon after Modi's re-election, and the protests against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, among other things. The documentary highlighted the role of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the systematic otherisation of Indian Muslims.

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THE Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) India under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 for alleged foreign exchange violations. The move comes in the aftermath of the tax 'survey' of BBC's offices in Mumbai and Delhi in February this year. 

The ED case was registered two weeks ago and so far, six BBC India employees have been questioned, including one of its directors, the Indian Express reported, quoting an unnamed government official. According to sources, the BBC has been asked to furnish books of accounts and financial statements, and the questioning of its employees is still ongoing.

The specific provisions of FEMA under which the BBC has been charged are not yet clear.

The FEMA's objective is to facilitate external trade and payments, and for promoting the orderly development and maintenance of the foreign exchange market in India. The Act makes offences related to foreign exchange civil offences.