The Indian government has launched an investigation into Netflix’s business practices in the country, including allegations of visa violations, tax evasion, and racial discrimination. This was revealed in an email sent to a former company manager, according to Reuters, which had access to the message.
The email was addressed to Nandini Mehta, a former director for legal and business affairs at Netflix India, who left the company in 2020. In the email, an official from the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs informed her about the investigation into Netflix’s activities in India.
“We have received certain details regarding the company’s conduct, including irregularities in visas, illegal structures, tax evasion, and other unethical practices,” wrote Deepak Yadav from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, a department of the Ministry of Home Affairs. He also mentioned incidents of racial discrimination involving Netflix during its operations in India.
Nandini Mehta has already filed a lawsuit against Netflix in the United States, claiming wrongful termination and racial and gender discrimination.
Netflix has denied all the accusations.
Mehta expressed her appreciation for the Indian investigation, stating she hopes that the authorities will make their findings public. However, she did not provide further details regarding the specific allegations from the Indian government.
Yadav declined to comment, citing a lack of authorization to speak to the media, and neither the ministry nor the registration office has responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.
A Netflix spokesperson said the company “has no information regarding an investigation by the Indian government.”
Netflix currently has around 10 million users in India and views the country as a key growth market, given its 1.4 billion population. The company has gradually developed more local content featuring Bollywood actors.
However, some users have criticized the content for lacking cultural sensitivity. Earlier this month, Netflix had to add a disclaimer to an Indian series about a hijacking after social media outrage over the portrayal of Muslim terrorists as Hindus.
Since 2023, Netflix has also been facing tax claims from the Indian authorities, which it is contesting.
