Indian officials search BBC offices after Modi documentary

A police officer and a private security guard ask journalists to leave from the gate of a building housing BBC office in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Officials from India's Income Tax department began conducting searches Tuesday at the BBC's offices in the capital, New Delhi, three of the broadcaster's staff members told the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) A police officer and a private security guard ask journalists to leave from the gate of a building housing BBC office in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Officials from India's Income Tax department began conducting searches Tuesday at the BBC's offices in the capital, New Delhi, three of the broadcaster's staff members told the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

By KRUTIKA PATHI / Associated Press February 15, 2023 5 min read

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s tax officials searched BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai on Tuesday, weeks after it aired a documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the U.K., the broadcaster said.

Rights groups and opposition politicians denounced the move by India’s Income Tax Department as an attempt to intimidate the media.

Britain’s publicly funded national broadcaster said it was cooperating fully with authorities and hoped “to have this situation resolved as soon as possible.” Late in the evening, the BBC said officials were still at the two offices.

“Many staff have now left the building but some have been asked to remain and are continuing to cooperate with the ongoing inquiries,” it said, adding: “Our output and journalism continues as normal.”

Indian tax authorities declined to comment.