Published Oct 11, 2024 | 12:07 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 11, 2024 | 12:07 PM
Journalist Mahesh Langa. (X)
Various press organisations including the Press Council of India, on Thursday, 1o October expressed concern over the arrest of senior journalist Mahesh Langa based in Gujarat in an alleged GST evasion case.
On Tuesday, 8 October, the crime branch arrested Langa and three other accused in the case, based on a complaint filed by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI).
According to an Indian Express report, the police alleged that they had recovered ₹20 lakh unaccounted cash, some gold and several land documents from him. However, Langa was not named in the primary FIR.
The statement from the journalist bodies read: “We, the undersigned journalist organizations, express concern at the arrest and ten-day custody of Mahesh Langa, Senior Assistant Editor of The Hindu by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch for his alleged involvement in an alleged GST evasion case.”
The statement further read, “Mahesh Langa is a well-known and fearless journalist with a career of employment in many reputed publications. His reports on developments related to Gujarat have been widely appreciated.”
The statement noted that according to available details, Mahesh Langa is neither the director nor a promoter of the company that finds mention in the FIR, “No transaction and signature was reportedly found in the journalist’s name.”
The journalists’ bodies further expressed doubt if the custodial interrogation of Mahesh Langa is a procedural overreach and perhaps a means to harass an individual.
“Even as the law should be allowed to take its own course, we feel that the custodial interrogation of Mahesh Langa is a procedural overreach and perhaps a means to harass an individual whose name doesn’t even feature in the primary FIR. Whereas getting to the bottom of the issue is important, we feel that due process should not be compromised and accused persons not unduly harassed under the pretext of extended custodial interrogation,” the statement read.
Press bodies — @PCITweets, @iwpcdelhi, DUJ and Press Association, express concern at arrest of Mahesh Langa (@LangaMahesh), a journalist with The Hindu in #Gujarat
“… We feel that the custodial interrogation of Mr Langa is a procedural overreach … to harass him.” pic.twitter.com/T3IUGHNMrF
— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) October 10, 2024
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula.)
