There was no reaction to the 'survey' – which comes weeks after the BBC aired a two-part documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi – from the UK government.
In the 48 hours since the surveys started, various journalists' bodies and independent observers – globally and within the country – have expressed deep concern with the move and its timing.
The Income Tax (IT) action comes weeks after the broadcaster aired its controversial 'India: The Modi Question' documentary, which focused on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's time as the chief minister of Gujarat when riots took place in 2002
Old BBC hand Satish Jacob, who broke the news of Indira Gandhi’s assassination along with Mark Tully and reported on Operation Bluestar amongst others, says: “I am an eternal optimist, and I still feel that the electorate of India will not allow the government to become a dictatorship. But days like this make it very hard to be optimistic.”
Reacting to the Indian IT department's action, the UK-based British public broadcaster said that it was "fully cooperating" with the authorities and hoped that the situation will be resolved "as soon as possible"