BBC offices raided in India amid Modi row

BBC offices in India have been raided by tax department officials, just weeks after the release of a documentary critical of the prime minister, Narendra Modi, which was later blocked by the government.

- Hannah Ellis-Petersen, Jim Waterson

According to those working at the broadcaster, more than a dozen officials from the country's income tax department turned up at the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai, where hundreds of employees are based, to conduct a "survey". Documents and the phones of several journalists were taken and the offices sealed.

Officers told local media the searches yesterday morning were part of a tax evasion investigation into the business operations of the BBC in India and several accounts and financial files had been seized.

The BBC said it was fully cooperating with officials, with some employees still in the offices yesterday evening: "Many staff have now left the building but some have been asked to remain and are continuing to cooperate with the ongoing enquiries.

"We are supporting our staff during this time and continue to hope to have this situation resolved as soon as possible. Our output and journalism continues as normal and we are committed to serving our audiences in India."

The UK government has so far declined to comment on the raids, although a foreign office official said they had spoken to the BBC about the incident.

The BBC has previously been reluctant to seek formal political support when it comes to such incidents in a bid to make clear it is distinct from the British state.