Government examining BBC showing documentary, planning action

The central government was on Thursday "examining all aspects" related to the BBC showing a documentary on the December 16 Delhi rape and will take "necessary action" if there is any violation, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.

"We had asked the BBC not to air it but they showed it as they are independent. We are looking into the issue and will take action if there is any violation of terms and conditions," Rajnath Singh told media persons here.

"We had written to the BBC asking it not to air the documentary but they went ahead telling us that it would not be shown in India," a home ministry official, wishing he not be named, told IANS.

"The BBC had planned to air the film on March 8, but they ... showed it on March 4, he said wondering "what was the hurry".

"They had told us that it would not be shown in India but it's now available on YouTube ... the issue is being examined from all angles and necessary action, if required, would be taken," the official said.

The documentary, by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin, was on the gang rape case of a 23-year-old trainee physiotherapist, who was brutally assaulted on December 16, 2012 on board a moving bus in Delhi.

Severely injured during the brutal assault, the victim was shifted for specialised treatment to a Singapore hospital where she died on December 29, 2012.