India furious as BBC airs gang-rape documentary in UK

Defying the ban imposed by the Indian government on the telecast of the documentary film India's Daughter, which is based on an interview of one of the convicts in the Delhi gang-rape case, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Wednesday night broadcast the film in the UK, though not in India.

Documentary film maker Leslee Udwin, who made the controversial film on the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case convict

Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said on Thursday they will take steps to ensure that the documentary is not broadcast anymore. ''We are going to take action; whatever is required will be done under law,'' he added.

Minister of state Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the channel that broadcast the 'Nirbhaya' documentary ''will not be forgiven''.

The BBC has said that it has no plans to telecast the controversial documentary on the 16 December 2012 gang-rape incident in India even though it went ahead and broadcast it in the UK.

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. However, in the same communication, the British media giant said that it has broadcast the film in United Kingdom last night 10:00 pm GMT.

It is likely that the Delhi Police may question the BBC crew who shot the controversial documentary India's Daughter.

The home ministry is believed to be planning legal action against British film-maker Leslee Udwin for allegedly violating stipulated permission conditions.

The woman's father said the documentary is ''like a mirror, it shows what we are really doing''.

''I want to ask the PM, when daughters can't be saved how can they get educated?'' he said.

The BBC said it had decided to go ahead with its telecast, as the film had handled the issue ''responsibly''.

Originally, BBC had decided to show it on 8 March, coinciding with International Women's Day, but decided to advance it even as a storm was raging in India, saying it will enable viewers to see this ''incredibly powerful documentary at the earliest opportunity''.

In a statement in London, the BBC said, ''This harrowing documentary, made with the full support and cooperation 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 fully complied with BBC's editorial guidelines.

The documentary has the backing of a number of other public service broadcasters, however the BBC is only responsible for transmission of the film in the UK,'' the broadcaster said.

The BBC statement came on a day the Indian Parliament witnessed outrage over the interview of gang rape convict, prompting the Modi government to promise an in-depth inquiry and disallowing its telecast.

''Under no circumstances, this documentary will be allowed to be broadcast … government has taken necessary action and secured an order restraining the telecast of the film,'' union home minister Rajnath Singh told parliament.