NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has imposed a penalty of Rs 3.44 crore on BBC World Services India for violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Additionally, the ED has directed three directors of BBC India to pay a fine of Rs 1.14 crore each. The action was taken in connection with a case registered in 2023.

According to the ED, the penalty was imposed for violating the rule that limits foreign funding in digital media to 26%. The total financial penalty on BBC WS India amounts to Rs 3,44,48,850, with an additional daily fine of Rs 5,000 from October 15, 2021, until compliance is achieved, for breaching FEMA, 1999 provisions.

The three directors fined Rs 1,14,82,950 each are Indushekhar Sinha, Paul Michael Gibbins, and Giles Anthony Hunt. The ED stated that they were penalized as they were in key leadership positions during the period when the violations occurred.

Following the broadcast of the documentary 'India: The Modi Question,' which alleged Narendra Modi's involvement in the Gujarat riots, the Income Tax Department conducted raids at various BBC offices. The raids were carried out at BBC India's Delhi and Mumbai offices in February 2023. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) later filed the case based on the findings from these raids.