Controversy over Dec 16 gang-rape documentary: As it happened on Thursday

New Delhi: Defying the ban imposed by the Indian government on the telecast of documentary film 'India's Daughter', which is based on the interview of one of the convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case, the Britain-based British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Wednesday night (3:30 am Thursday Indian time) broadcast the controversial film.

Here are the live updates:

• Meanwhile, the government also instructed telecom operators to ensure that the video is not available to their subscribers, after reports came that the documentary, which has the interview of the rape convict Mukesh Singh, was available to mobile broadband users, official sources said.
• YouTube is believed to have removed the controversial BBC documentary on Nirbhaya rape convict after the government directed it do so, but users can still access links to the video on popular video sharing site, as per PTI. YouTube removed the documentary from its website, sources in the government said. YouTube has confirmed compliance with the court order as per the notification received by them from the government.
• GoI respects media's freedom but BBC's documentary has been banned in compliance with Court's order, adds Prasad.
• IT Ministry is executing lawful court's order, BBC should ponder if an international platform should be given to such a criminal: Union Minister for Communications and IT, RS Prasad.
• Govt serves legal notice to BBC for airing documentary on Dec 16 gang-rape case, as per PTI. The government, in its notice, told the BBC that it has "violated" the agreement of not using the documentary for commercial purpose and for this the British media giant was liable for legal action.
• The Delhi Police has written to the Telecom and Communications Ministry and sought blocking of the availability of documentary film 'India's Daughter' on YouTube.
• It's morally wrong. (The broadcaster) didn’t think about anguish that women who have faced such things will go through - Lalita Kumarmangalam, NCW
• If Mukesh’s lawyer asks for a ban it makes sense to me, but why others? Why not reveal to the world what rapists are like? - Javed Akhtar
• Rajya Sabha MP Javed Akhtar says goal of such documentaries is to bring out disgust against rapists' point of view. “It makes people aware such a mindset is not uncommon.”
• Saying that he was pained by the development (telecast of documentary), Rajnath said, “We had said that the Nirbhaya documentary shouldn't be broadcast. MHA will take necessary action.
• Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has indicated that the government is considering action against the BBC for defying its ban and telecasting the controversial documentary, India's Daughter, said reports.
• Meanwhile, people took to the streets in Varanasi on Thursday and burnt an effigy of the BBC in protest against the documentary titled 'India's Daughter'.
• Permission to take interview is always the discretion of the concerned authority, so we are not looking for criminality in that - Bassi

• Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi says 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 adds.
• The channel that broadcast the Nirbhaya documentary will not be forgiven, says MoS Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

• The BBC has said that it has no plans to telecast the controversial documentary on December 16, 2012 gang-rape 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 10:00 pm GMT.
• It is likely that the Delhi Police may question the BBC crew who shot the controversial documentary ' India's Daughter'.

• A high-level meet is underway at the Home Ministry and is being chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Sources say the issue of Nirbhaya documentary is likely to be discussed at the meet.
• The Home Ministry is believed to be planning legal action against Leslee Udwin for allegedly violating stipulated permission conditions.
• British film-maker Leslee Udwin, who shot the controversial documentary 'India's Daughter' left India for the UK last evening, reports said. She boarded the flight back home ahead of the telecast of the film.
• Sources say the government could take action against the BBC for defying the ban on telecast of the Nirbhaya documentary

• The documentary is like a mirror, it shows what we are really doing - Nirbhaya’s father
• I want to ask the PM, when daughters can't be saved how can they get educated? - Nirbhaya’s father
• This is an insult to country as the channel has aired the documentary despite ban - Nirbhaya’s father
• Had they even aired it in India I wouldn't have had any problem, but when government bans it, I am with them, says Nirbhaya’s father on the documentary row
• Our daughter died and we cried for justice, but what did we get? Why are we made to pay a price of it? - Nirbhaya’s mother

• We feel we will die while fighting for justice but the accused would not get punishment, says Nirbhaya’s mother on the documentary film controversy
• The UK-based BBC has defied the ban imposed by the Indian government on the telecast of the controversial documentary film, 'India's Daughter'. The film was on Wednesday night broadcast in the UK on channel BBC 4. The channel is also available for viewing in other countries.

The documentary film is based on the interview of one of the convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case.

The BBC had originally scheduled the documentary, made by British film-maker Leslee Udwin, for telecast on March 8 worldwide, including India. March 8 is International Women's Day.

However, the broadcaster advanced the telecast in view of the "intense level of interest" in the film, it said in a statement, as per reports.

"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 film handles the issue responsibly and we are confident the programme fully complies with our editorial guidelines," the BBC added in its statement.

The development came a day after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament that the government would not allow the telecast of the film in India, and would also seek to stop its broadcast worldwide.

As per reports, the film is also available for viewing online.

Rajnath also said that a probe will be held to find out how the permission was given to interview the convict inside Tihar Jail.

The Delhi Police has already filed an FIR in the case and have begun investigation.