Published Nov 26, 2024 | 3:07 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 26, 2024 | 3:07 PM
Journalist Mahesh Langa. (X)
A court in Ahmedabad in Gujarat on Monday, 25 November, granted anticipatory bail to journalist Mahesh Langa in a cheating FIR registered against him on a complaint filed by an individual running an advertising agency.
The court granted him bail noting that, according to the FIR, the dispute between the parties was for non-payment of money which is “primarily in civil nature”.
It also noted that the alleged cheating had happened between March 2023 and October 2024 and the complainant had not explained the delay in filing the complaint.
As the complainant did not explain the delay in filing the complaint, the court exercised its discretion to grant anticipatory bail to Langa.
Mahesh Langa, a senior assistant editor at The Hindu, was arrested by the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) along with three others on 8 October. The arrest followed the booking of 13 firms for alleged input tax credit (ITC) fraud, based on a complaint from the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI).
Deputy Commissioner Ajit Rajian had confirmed the recovery of ₹20 lakh in unaccounted cash, gold, and land documents from Langa. The police alleged the fraud resulted in significant losses to the government through bogus ITC claims using forged documents from over 220 benami firms.
Langa had challenged his 10-day police remand in the Gujarat High Court, describing his arrest as “politically motivated.” He withdrew the petition on 14 October during a court hearing.
The complainant alleged that he met Langa and by relying on his word, the complainant had transferred ₹28.68 Lakh to Langa for various purposes.
When the complainant asked for the repayment, Langa allegedly threatened him with negative publicity using his media influence. The complainant thereafter approached the police and an FIR was filed on 29 October registered under Sections 316(2) (criminal breach of trust) and 318 (Cheating) of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
On 22 October, Gujarat police registered a second FIR against him for allegedly possessing confidential government documents.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
