New Delhi, February 14: The Press Club of India (PCI) on Tuesday condemned the Income Tax Department's surveys at the offices of the BBC in New Delhi and Mumbai. The department conducted the surveys at the British broadcaster's offices as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion, officials said.

"The recent raids are part of a series of attacks on the media by government agencies in recent times, especially against those sections of the media that the government perceives as hostile to it," the PCI said in a statement. Income Tax Department Undertakes 'Survey' at BBC Office in Delhi.

Press Club of India's Tweet

It appealed to the government to restrain its agencies from "misusing their powers in order to intimidate the media". The department's action comes weeks after the British broadcaster aired a two-part documentary, "India: The Modi Question". BBC Offices in Delhi and Mumbai Under I-T Department Scanner, Income Tax Officials Conduct Survey Operation.

"If the government has any issue with the report, it should take it up with the concerned office rather than shoot the messenger," the PCI said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)