ਭਾਰਤ is investigating the business practices of U.S. streaming giant Netflix’s local operations, including allegations of visa violations and racial discrimination, according to a ਸਰਕਾਰ email sent to a former executive.
The details of ਭਾਰਤ’s investigation were included in a July 20 email, reviewed by Reuters, which was written by a home ministry official to Netflix’s former director of business and legal affairs for ਭਾਰਤ, Nandini Mehta, who left the company in 2020.
“This is regarding visa and tax violations concerns regarding the business practices of Netflix in ਭਾਰਤ,” wrote Indian official Deepak Yadav from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) of the home ministry in New Delhi.
“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 ਭਾਰਤ,” he added.
In an emailed statement, Mehta said she is pursuing a lawsuit in U.S. against Netflix for alleged wrongful termination as well as racial and gender discrimination – charges the company denies.
Mehta said she welcomed the Indian investigation and hopes the authorities make their findings public, but did not elaborate on the allegations made by the ਸਰਕਾਰ.
Yadav declined to comment, saying he was not authorized to speak to media. The FRRO and ਭਾਰਤ’s home ministry did not respond to Reuters queries.
A Netflix spokesperson said the company was “unaware of an investigation by the Indian ਸਰਕਾਰ.”
The Indian official’s email shows growing scrutiny of Netflix in ਭਾਰਤ, where it has roughly 10 million users and which it considers a growth market where companies target affluent ਲੋਕ in the nation of 1.4 billion ਲੋਕ.
Over the years, the U.S. streaming giant has developed more local content featuring Bollywood actors.
It has also often faced heat in ਭਾਰਤ over its content deemed insensitive by some users. This month, it was forced to add new disclaimers to an Indian series about a plane hijack after social media outrage and ਸਰਕਾਰ anger over what they said was Muslim hijackers being shown as Hindus.
SEEKING DOCUMENTS, U.S. LAWSUIT
While it is known that Netflix has since 2023 faced an Indian tax demand – which it is challenging – the existence of a broader investigation into allegations including visa compliance and racial discrimination has not been previously reported.
The Indian ਸਰਕਾਰ’s email did not elaborate which agencies are looking at issues concerning Netflix. The FRRO works closely with home ministry’s Intelligence Bureau, the domestic intelligence agency, and is the main agency looking into foreigners’ visa compliance and permissions to visit so-called “sensitive” regions.
Last year, ਭਾਰਤ accused Chinese smartphone player Vivo and its Indian affiliates for breaching visa rules by visiting certain “sensitive” regions without permission. ਭਾਰਤ classifies parts of certain states such as Jammu & Kashmir in north and Sikkim in east as restricted areas.
The FRRO also acts as a liaison in matters related to foreigners with other ਸਰਕਾਰ offices.
Mehta worked at the company’s Los Angeles and Mumbai offices from April 2018 to April 2020, her LinkedIn profile shows.
The Indian ਸਰਕਾਰ email asked her to provide “details/documents” as she was a former legal executive of the company.
In 2021, Mehta sued Netflix in Los Angeles County Superior Court in California for alleged wrongful termination and racial and gender discrimination, among other things, U.S. court filings show.
Netflix has in U.S. court denied “each and every allegation” and said in its statement that Mehta was fired for repeatedly using her corporate credit card for tens of thousands of dollars in personal expenses.
Mehta said she will “continue to fight for justice.” Her case is set for a status hearing on Monday in Los Angeles.
