The Home Ministry is investigating Netflix for alleged visa violations and claims of racial discrimination.

India is investigating the business practices of Netflix's local operations, focusing on allegations of visa violations and racial discrimination, as indicated in a government email sent to a former executive.

Details of the investigation were revealed in an email dated July 20, reviewed by Reuters. The message was from Deepak Yadav, an official from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in New Delhi, to Nandini Mehta, Netflix's former director of business and legal affairs for India, who left the company in 2020.

"This is regarding concerns over visa and tax violations related to Netflix's business practices in India," Yadav wrote.

"We have received certain details regarding the company's conduct, including visa violations, illegal structures, tax evasion, and other malpractices, such as incidents of racial discrimination related to its operations in India," he stated.

In an emailed response, Mehta mentioned that she is pursuing a lawsuit against Netflix in the U.S. for alleged wrongful termination, as well as claims of racial and gender discrimination, which the company denies.

Mehta expressed her support for the Indian investigation and hopes the authorities will make their findings public, though she did not elaborate on the allegations made by the government. Yadav declined to comment, stating he was not authorized to speak to the media. The FRRO and India's home ministry did not respond to Reuters' inquiries. A Netflix spokesperson indicated that the company was "unaware of an investigation by the Indian government."

The email from the Indian official reflects increasing scrutiny of Netflix in India, where the service has approximately 10 million users and sees the country as a growth market, targeting affluent individuals in a population of 1.4 billion. Over the years, Netflix has produced more local content featuring Bollywood actors.

The platform has frequently faced criticism in India over content considered insensitive. Recently, it was compelled to add disclaimers to an Indian series about a plane hijacking after social media backlash and government displeasure regarding portrayals of Muslim hijackers as Hindus.

While Netflix has been contesting an Indian tax demand since 2023, the broader investigation into allegations of visa compliance and racial discrimination had not been previously reported.

The Indian government's email did not specify which agencies are investigating Netflix. The FRRO collaborates closely with the home ministry's Intelligence Bureau, the domestic intelligence agency, and is the primary body overseeing visa compliance for foreigners visiting sensitive regions.

Last year, India accused the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo and its Indian affiliates of breaching visa rules by visiting certain restricted areas without authorization. Regions like Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim are classified as sensitive.

The FRRO also serves as a liaison with other government offices concerning foreign nationals.

Mehta, who worked at Netflix's Los Angeles and Mumbai offices from April 2018 to April 2020, was requested by the Indian government to provide "details/documents" due to her role as a former legal executive at the company.

In 2021, Mehta filed a lawsuit against Netflix in California's Los Angeles County Superior Court for alleged wrongful termination and discrimination, among other claims. According to U.S. court filings, Netflix denied "each and every allegation," asserting that Mehta was terminated for misusing her corporate credit card for personal expenses totaling tens of thousands of dollars.

Mehta stated she will "continue to fight for justice," with her case set for a status hearing on Monday in Los Angeles.