Gujarat journalist gets anticipatory bail in another FIR for ‘cheating’

A Gujarat sessions court has granted anticipatory bail to The Hindu journalist Mahesh Langa in an FIR lodged against him by an ad agency owner for “cheating” him of Rs 28.68 lakh and threatening “with negative publicity using media influence”, Livelaw reported.

It was the third FIR against The Hindu’s senior assistant editor within two months, after complainant Khushi Advertisement Ideas alleged that Langa threatened him with negative publicity on asking for repayment. He was booked under Sections 316(2) (criminal breach of trust) and 318 (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Langa is currently in judicial custody at the Sabarmati Central Jail in connection with an alleged GST scam. His bail application in the case is pending before the Gujarat High Court.

The journalist was initially arrested by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch on October 8, over allegations related to GST evasion through shell companies. The FIR named several individuals and entities, including a firm allegedly owned by the journalist’s cousin Manoj Kumar. A second FIR was filed against him for the possession of confidential documents linked to the Gujarat Maritime Board on October 22. 

On Tuesday, the court noted that in the third FIR, the dispute of non-payment of money was “primarily in civil nature” and while the alleged cheating had happened over about 20 months between March 2023 and October this year, the complainant did not have any explanation about the delay in filing of complaint.

Several senior journalists had condemned the police action against Langa, while at least four press associations expressed concern at his custodial interrogation. Read here and here. 

Newslaundry had earlier reported all about the alleged GST scam case related to Langa. Read here.