NEW DELHI, Feb 17 – Indian tax authorities have left the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai after conducting searches, the British broadcaster said on Thursday.
The raid, which began on Tuesday, came weeks after the BBC released a two-part documentary series titled “India: The Modi Question”, which the Indian government described as “hostile propaganda”.
The BBC said some of its staff faced lengthy questioning or were required to stay overnight.
“The Income Tax authorities have left our offices in Delhi and Mumbai. We will continue to cooperate with the authorities and hope matters are resolved as soon as possible,” it said in a statement on Thursday.
“Our output is back to normal and we remain committed to serving our audiences in India and beyond,” the broadcaster said, and vowed to “stand by our colleagues and journalists who will continue to report without fear or favour.”
India’s opposition parties and media groups condemned the action against the BBC as an attack on media freedom.
