Netflix, a US streaming giant, is being probed for irregularities in its local operations by Indian authorities, reports said.
There have been allegations of visa violations and racial discrimination against Netflix – a household name even in India.
“This is regarding visa and tax violations concerns regarding the business practices of Netflix in India,” Indian government official Deepak Yadav wrote to the company’s former director of business and legal affairs for India, Nandini Mehta, months ago, they said.
“We have received certain details in this regard w.r.t (with respect to) the stated company’s conduct, visa violation, illegal structures, tax evasion and other malpractices including incidents of racial discrimination that company has been engaged in while conducting its business in India,” Yadav, who worked with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) of the Home Ministry in New Delhi, said.
In an emailed statement, Mehta informed she was pursuing a lawsuit in US against Netflix for the alleged irregularities.
The company denies the charges.
Meanwhile, a Netflix spokesperson said the company was “unaware of an investigation by the Indian government.”
Over the years, the US streaming giant has developed more local content featuring Bollywood actors.
It has also often faced heat in the country over its content deemed ‘insensitive’ by some users.