Senior journalist Mahesh Langa, a senior assistant editor at The Hindu, was arrested on Tuesday by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch in connection with an alleged Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud case. This arrest is part of a larger investigation into a scheme involving over 200 fraudulent companies that reportedly used fake input tax credit (ITC) claims to defraud the government.
Details of the Arrest
Langa’s arrest followed extensive raids conducted by the Crime Branch, Economic Offences Wing, and Special Operations Group at 14 locations across Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Surat, Kheda, and Bhavnagar. The operation was initiated based on a complaint from the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), which uncovered suspicious transactions linked to bogus firms created using forged documents.During the raids, authorities seized Rs 20 lakh in unaccounted cash, gold jewelry, and land documents from Langa’s residence. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ajit Rajian stated that Langa’s wife and father were also implicated through forged documents associated with these fraudulent entities. However, Langa’s name does not appear in the FIR filed against several individuals and companies involved in the case.
Background of the Case
The alleged fraud is said to have occurred between February and May of last year, with a firm named Dhruvi Enterprise identified as a key player in the scheme. This firm reportedly created multiple shell companies to facilitate bogus ITC claims without any actual transactions taking place. The investigation revealed that these fraudulent activities could have caused significant financial losses to the government.
Reactions from The Hindu
Suresh Nambath, editor at The Hindu, expressed concern regarding Langa’s arrest, emphasizing that it is not related to his journalistic work. He stated on social media that they appreciate Langa’s contributions as a correspondent and hope for a fair investigation. Nambath reiterated that no journalist should be targeted for their reporting.
Political Connections
Among those also arrested are Ajay Barad, son of BJP MLA Bhagwan Barad, and his relatives, who are linked to Aryan Associates—a firm involved in the alleged fraud. Barad has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that his company conducted legitimate transactions with another firm that turned out to be fraudulent.
Ongoing Investigations
The police continue to investigate this extensive network of fraudulent firms. They suspect that this organized scheme could lead to losses amounting to crores of rupees for the government through fraudulent billing practices and misrepresentation of facts.As investigations proceed, more details are expected to emerge regarding the extent of this fraud and its implications for those involved.
