BBC World Service India Faces Hefty FDI Regulation Penalty

The Enforcement Directorate has fined BBC World Service India for breaching FDI regulations with penalties exceeding Rs 3.44 crore, including fines for three directors. The agency's investigation began after an income-tax survey, addressing the broadcaster's failure to adjust its FDI to required limits.

In a significant regulatory move, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has imposed hefty fines on BBC World Service India, totaling over Rs 3.44 crore, due to alleged breaches of foreign direct investment (FDI) rules.

The probe, stemming from an income-tax department survey in February, revealed the broadcaster continued to operate as a 100% FDI entity. This contravened the directive issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which mandates a maximum 26% FDI for digital media.

BBC directors Giles Antony Hunt, Indu Shekhar Sinha, and Paul Michael Gibbons, were individually fined over Rs 1.14 crore. BBC, committed to adhering to local laws, awaits the official adjudication order and plans to evaluate its subsequent options.