No telecast of Dec 16 gangrape film in India: BBC

New Delhi, Mar 5 (PTI): The BBC has said that it has no plans to telecast the controversial documentary on December 16, 2012 gangrape incident in India even though it went ahead and broadcast it in the UK, defying the ban imposed on by the Indian government.

In a communication to the Home Ministry, the BBC said that in compliance with the Government of India's directive, it would not telecast the documentary in India, official sources said.

However, in the same communication, the British media giant said that it has broadcast the film in United Kingdom last night 10 PM (GMT).

The Union Home Ministry had yesterday asked BBC not to broadcast the documentary anywhere.

Officials had said the Home Ministry is also planning legal action against British filmmaker Leslee Udwin for allegedly violating stipulated permission conditions.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said that provisions for allowing such shoots inside jails would be reviewed.

A Delhi court had said the order restraining airing or broadcasting the interview of the convict Mukesh Singh, which was conducted inside the Tihar jail here, will continue till further orders.

The documentary includes an interview conducted by Udwin and BBC, of Mukesh Singh, the driver of the bus in which the 23-year-old paramedical student was brutally gangraped by six men on December 16, 2012. Mukesh has made derogatory statements against women in the documentary.

Earlier Report

After ban in India, BBC airs Nirbhaya documentary in UK

New Delhi, Mar 5 (NDTV): The British Broadcasting Corporation, or BBC, on Wednesday night aired the documentary based on the December 2012 Delhi gang-rape by filmmaker Leslee Udwin in the UK and other countries.

The documentary was to be aired in several countries on March 8, on the occasion of International Women's Day. But a statement from the BBC said given the "intense level of interest" they have brought the transmission forward.

"This harrowing documentary, made with the full support and co-operation of the victim's parents, provides a revealing insight into a horrific crime that sent shock waves around the world and led to protests across India demanding changes in attitudes towards women," the statement said.

"The film handles the issue responsibly and we are confident the programme fully complies with our editorial guidelines," it further added.

The documentary features an interview with Mukesh Singh, one of the five men who had brutally raped and tortured the 23-year-old medical student three years ago. In the interview, Singh has displayed an appalling lack of remorse, blaming the woman for the rape.

The BBC decision came hours after home minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament that the government will stop the documentary's telecast abroad.

The home ministry later said it has asked the ministry of external affairs to liase with the UK government to restrain BBC from airing the documentary.

On Wednesday evening, Delhi Police chief BS Bassi said BBC and the other channels have been informed about the matter.

Broadcast or publication of the documentary has already been restricted in India. The Delhi Police have filed a case and are investigating the matter.