Gujarat HC Questions Media Hype Over Journalist’s Arrest in GST Fraud Case

Ahmedabad : The Gujarat High Court on Monday raised concerns over the media coverage surrounding the arrest of Mahesh Langa, a journalist with The Hindu, in a case involving alleged Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud. Justice Sandeep N Bhatt questioned why the case was being “publicized” and emphasized that every individual, irrespective of their profession, is treated equally before the law, as reported by Barandbench.com.

During the hearing, Justice Bhatt addressed the perceived hype around the case, stating, “Why is it so publicized? Every citizen is a citizen. We don’t want any publicity, at least during the course of adjudication. This is not fair.” He added that the court would not be influenced by external efforts to attract attention to the matter, highlighting the impartiality of judicial proceedings.

The comments came after Langa’s legal team sought to withdraw his petition challenging a magistrate’s decision to place him in police custody for ten days. Langa was arrested on October 8 by the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) in connection with alleged GST fraud. The charges stem from accusations that he, along with three others, was involved in a scheme to falsely claim input tax credit (ITC) through shell companies.

The case was adjourned last week as the state’s counsel had not yet received the petition. When the court reconvened on Monday, Langa’s counsel informed Justice Bhatt that the journalist wished to withdraw the plea. Justice Bhatt asked why the petition was being withdrawn and if there had been any developments in the case, but the counsel had no additional information.

Justice Bhatt expressed concerns that the extensive media attention could imply attempts to influence the court’s proceedings. “Whoever it is – even a politician, reporter, or any normal citizen, the court of law is a court of law. We decide cases on their merits, not on any external factors,” he said. The judge emphasized that such publicity during legal adjudication was inappropriate, adding that Langa himself might not be behind it, but others might be trying to draw undue attention to the case.

When the journalist’s lawyer stated there was nothing intended against the court, Justice Bhatt responded, “It amounts to that impliedly, not by you but whoever is trying to make such attempts.”

Background of the Case: Mahesh Langa’s arrest followed a complaint from the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), which alleged that 13 firms and their owners were involved in creating fake documents to establish 220 shell companies. These companies reportedly facilitated fraudulent input tax credit claims. According to the authorities, Langa’s involvement was linked to these companies, although his counsel argued there was no evidence of his direct connection to the alleged fraudulent activities.

In his petition, Langa claimed that the decision to remand him to police custody was politically motivated, aimed at obstructing his journalistic activities. He argued that the magistrate had ordered his custody without sufficient evidence linking him to the crime. When the case was first brought before the High Court, Langa’s lawyer maintained that there was nothing to suggest his involvement with the shell companies.