All entities must comply with laws, Jaishankar tells UK Foreign Minister on BBC tax 'survey'

New Delhi, March 1

India and the UK mentioned the legal process to each other over the BBC tax ‘survey’ and the extradition of Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallaya, respectively.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly that “all entities operating in India must fully comply with relevant laws” when he raised the BBC tax surveys issue during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Ministerial.

“UK Foreign Secretary brought up the BBC tax issue with EAM today. He was firmly told that all entities operating in India must comply fully with relevant laws and regulations,” said an official source.

When Jaishankar raised the issue of the pending extradition of Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallaya from London, Cleverly said, “The legal process in the UK, just as it is in India, is independent of the government. We always want to see the machinery of the justice system working promptly but those are the decisions of the British Judicial system.”

Last month, the Income-Tax authorities had carried out surveys at the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai. The action by the tax authorities came immediately after the BBC released a documentary about the 2002 Gujarat riots which alleged inaction during the massacre by the then CM Narendra Modi.

Cleverly also formally launched the Young Professional Scheme that will permit 3,000 degree holders each from the UK and India to live, study and work in the other country. India is the first visa national country to benefit from this scheme which is part of the India-UK Migration and Mobility MoU signed in May 2021. The Young Professionals Scheme will be valid for three years and there is no need for a job offer to apply for this visa.