Journalist Mahesh Langa granted bail in GST fraud case, to remain in custody in another case

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday granted bail to journalist Mahesh Langa in an alleged Goods and Services Tax-related fraud, The Hindu reported.

However, Langa, a journalist with The Hindu in Ahmedabad, will not be released as he is in judicial custody in connection with another related case.

There was no material on record to establish “money laundering”, The Hindu quoted the court as saying on Thursday.

Justice MR Mengdey said that the investigation against Langa was “virtually over by now” and therefore he “deserves consideration”.

There are five cases involving the journalist.

He was arrested by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch on October 7 in the alleged Goods and Services Tax-related fraud. The police alleged that a company named Dhruvi Enterprise created six firms from a single Permanent Account Number to fraudulently receive input tax credit.

One of the companies named in the FIR is DA Enterprise.

On October 22, the police registered the second case against Langa for allegedly possessing confidential government documents pertaining to the Gujarat Maritime Board. The documents were recovered from him during his arrest in the first case.

Press bodies have urged the police to withdraw the case against Langa for the alleged possession of confidential government documents.

On October 29, Langa was booked on charges of allegedly cheating a businessman in Ahmedabad.

The complainant, Pranay Shah, who runs an advertising firm, alleged that Langa had offered to help publish “positive…

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