The BBC has been fined £314,510 ($397,980) by India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly violating the country’s foreign exchange regulations. The broadcaster’s failure to lower foreign ownership in its Indian businesses to the allowed level of 26% is what led to the financial penalty. Three BBC directors also received fines of £104,836 apiece for their involvement in overseeing operations during this time.
Immediately following tax raids on BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai, the probe got underway in April 2023. For persistent non-compliance, the ED, which is responsible for handling infractions under India’s Foreign Exchange Management Act, also imposed daily fines going back to October 2021.
The dispute comes after previous hostilities between the BBC and the Indian government. A BBC documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of the Gujarat riots in 2002 has already drawn criticism from officials who called it “propaganda.” In India, the documentary was prohibited, and social media distribution of its content was restricted.
The BBC has not yet responded to the sanctions, but the issue underscores the continued difficulties faced by foreign media in India, especially in light of political and regulatory sensitivities.
