# India opens new investigation into BBC in widening crackdown Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2023-04-13 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: India opens investigation into BBC for foreign exchange Meta Description: India's financial crime-fighting agency investigates BBC for alleged foreign exchange rule violations amid tensions over documentary on PM Modi's URL: https://financedigest.com/india-opens-new-investigation-into-bbc-in-widening-crackdownhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2023-04-13t070931z2lynxmpej3c066rtroptp4india-bbc-1736814161748-compressed.jpg) # India opens new investigation into BBC in widening crackdown By Aftab Ahmed NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India’s financial crime-fighting agency has opened an investigation into alleged violations of foreign exchange rules by the BBC, a source told Reuters on Thursday, months after tax officials searched the broadcaster’s Mumbai and Delhi offices. The tax raids in February had come close on the heels of the release of a BBC documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership of the state of Gujarat during riots in 2002. At least 1,000 people were killed in the riots, most of them Muslims. The latest investigation is being conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under India’s Foreign Exchange [Management Act](https://www.financedigest.com/fintech-and-compliance-managing-the-eternal-balancing-act.html "Fintech and compliance: Managing the eternal balancing act"). The [agency issued a notice](https://www.financedigest.com/leading-credit-reference-agencies-launch-industry-wide-information-notice-to-support-lenders-and-consumers-in-gdpr-world.html "Leading credit reference agencies launch industry-wide information notice to support lenders and consumers in GDPR world") to the BBC in March and questioned some employees earlier this month, said the source, who declined to be named citing the sensitivity of the matter. An ED spokesperson did not immediately respond to [calls and a text message seeking](https://www.financedigest.com/final-call-for-first-time-buyers-seeking-a-new-home-at-sovereign-place.html "Final Call For First Time Buyers Seeking A New Home At Sovereign Place") comment. The BBC did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The [Foreign Exchange](https://www.financedigest.com/small-business-strategies-for-foreign-exchange.html "Small business strategies for foreign exchange") Management Act, 1999, is a civil law and the ED conducts investigations into suspected contraventions of it to “adjudicate and impose penalties” on those found guilty, it says on its website. [British Foreign Minister](https://www.financedigest.com/british-doctors-strikes-risk-patient-safety-minister-says.html "British doctors’ strikes risk patient safety, minister says") James Cleverly, during a visit to New Delhi in March, raised the BBC tax searches with his Indian counterpart. Relations between India and Britain, who are working to seal a delayed free-trade agreement, have also been strained by protests outside the Indian High Commission in London [last month](https://www.financedigest.com/fintech-trends-to-look-out-for-during-the-last-six-months-of-2019.html "Fintech trends to look out for during the last six months of 2019"). India on Wednesday asked Britain for increased monitoring of UK-based supporters of a Sikh separatist [movement following a “breach](https://www.financedigest.com/10-steps-to-stop-lateral-movement-in-data-breaches.html "10 Steps to Stop Lateral Movement in Data Breaches") of security” at the High Commission. The British government said this week they were working to “review [security and make changes](https://www.financedigest.com/hungary-pledges-legal-changes-to-secure-eu-recovery-funding-govt.html "Hungary pledges legal changes to secure EU recovery funding – govt") to ensure the safety of its staff. (Reporting by Aftab Ahmed, writing by Sakshi Dayal Editing by Krishna N. Das) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---