NEW DELHI, 22 February (H.S.) : The Enforcement

Directorate (ED) has taken action against BBC India. ED has imposed a fine of

Rs 3 crore on BBC. Along with this, a fine of ₹1.14 crore has been imposed on

three directors, Giles Antony Hunt, Indu Shekhar Sinha and Paul Michael Gibbons

for their role in overseeing the operations of the company during the period of

violation.

The troubles of British

Broadcasting Company (BBC) India have increased once again. From the year 2023,

an investigation was going on under the FEMA case. In the same case again, ED

has now imposed a fine of Rs 3.44 crore the news portal, BBC India. A case was

registered against BBC India under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA)

for alleged foreign exchange violations. Two years later, the ED issued an

order, in which a fine of Rs 3.44 crore has been imposed on BBC India. The

agency has also imposed a fine of Rs 1.14 crore on three BBC directors.

The ED had registered the

case in February 2023 after Income Tax Department surveyed at BBC offices in

New Delhi and Mumbai for alleged “non-compliance” of transfer pricing documentation

rules & diversion of profits. According to Sources, a fine of Rs

3,44,48,850 has been imposed on BBC India for violation of the provisions of

FEMA (1999). Also, the directors – Giles Antony Hunt, Indu Shekhar Sinha and

Paul Michael Gibbons – have been fined ₹1.14 crore for their role in overseeing

the company's operations during the period of violation. A BBC India official said,

BBC follows the rules of every country in which it works, including India. He

also said that neither BBC World Service India nor its directors have received

any order from the Enforcement Directorate. “When we receive any order, we will

review it carefully and consider what next steps should be taken,” the officer

said.

Hindusthan Samachar / Meenakshi Bhattacharya