Gujarat: Police files cheating case against journalist Mahesh Langa, arrested for GST fraud

Legal trouble for journalist Mahesh Langa, who is already under the Enforcement Directorate’s scanner for an alleged GST fraud case, continues to mount as the police have registered a cheating case against him for allegedly duping a 28-year-old businessman, Rs 68 lakh, officials said. Tuesday.

The businessman, who operates an advertising company, met Langa two years ago when the journalist presented himself as an influential media figure with extensive contacts. He offered to help the businessman with his advertising business through his connections and positive news.

On two occasions, on March 16 and June 6, 2024, Langa allegedly took 23 lei from the businessman under the pretext of helping him purchase a corporate office. Later in September, Langa sought assistance in booking a banquet hall for his wife Kavita’s birthday, which resulted in a payment of Rs 5,68,250 that Langa promised to repay – money he has yet to were returned.

When the businessman demanded a refund of the total amount of Rs 28,68,250, he alleged that Langa threatened him, warning of negative media coverage that could destroy his reputation. After learning about Langa’s arrest by the Ahmedabad crime branch in a GST fraud case, the businessman approached the authorities with evidence, including bank transaction records for the sum of Rs 23 crore and receipts for payment of the banquet hall.

On 7 October 2024, an FIR was registered against Langa and 12 related companies, including a shell entity called Dhruvi Enterprises. Investigations have revealed shocking details that have led to the arrest of 17 people to date.

Police also said Langa used fake invoices through shell companies to defraud the government. Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) reports indicate that identical mobile numbers and PAN cards were used to register more than 220 suspicious companies.

The forensic department seized 29 computers, 38 mobile phones, 7 laptops and numerous documents, all of which were sent for forensic analysis.

Dhruvi Enterprises was allegedly registered using the credentials of Harsh Makwana, a laborer from Botad district, and engaged in fraudulent transactions totaling Rs 7.04 crore. This shell company was mainly used to create fake invoices for falsely claiming input tax credits to avoid GST payments.

So far, the crime branch has registered 139 statements and arrested 17 suspects involved in the fraudulent setting up of Dhruvi Enterprises. Langa’s link with another firm, DA Enterprises, also came to light and the company’s turnover skyrocketed from Rs 21 lakh in 2020-21 to Rs 6.7 crore in 2022-23 . Evidence indicated that Langa was the chief operating officer of DA Enterprises after his wife was made a co-owner in an attempt to funnel the profits.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday conducted search operations at seven locations in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, Surat and Bhavnagar as part of an ongoing investigation into a money laundering case involving a “controlled” company de Langa and seized cash and unidentified incriminating documents.

According to the federal investigation agency, journalist Langa “controlled” Dhruvi Enterprises from the premises of which “a large amount of unaccounted cash” was seized by the police.

In addition, various other Benami transactions are found to be suspected to have taken place with shell companies.

Langa works for a newspaper as an investigative journalist.

Several media organisations, including Editors Guild of India, Press Club of India, Press Association, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Delhi Union of Journalists and Kerala Union of Working Journalists, condemned the second FIR filed against Mahesh Langa for allegedly possessing confidential documents .

The groups called on authorities to drop the charges, noting that journalists routinely access sensitive documents as part of their work and penalizing them for doing so sets a “worrying” precedent.

Even the Congress has denounced the actions against Langa, labeling them as an “unspoken attack on democratic freedoms”.