Senior Journalist Mahesh Langa Arrested in Money Laundering Investigation
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Mahesh Langa, a senior journalist based in Gujarat, in a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged financial fraud on Tuesday.
Langa, who serves as a correspondent for The Hindu newspaper in Gujarat, was taken into custody and presented before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court in Ahmedabad. The court has granted the ED a four-day custody of Langa until February 28.
What’s the Case Against Mahesh Langa?
According to the ED, the investigation was initiated following an FIR registered by the deputy commissioner of police in Ahmedabad against Maheshbhai Langa and others, on charges of cheating and criminal breach of trust.
During the course of the investigation, another FIR was filed by the Satellite Police Station in Ahmedabad against Langa for committing fraud, criminal misappropriation, breach of trust, and cheating, which allegedly caused wrongful losses amounting to lakhs of rupees to those affected, as stated by the ED.
“ED investigation revealed that Mahesh Prabhudan Langa had engaged in multiple fraudulent financial transactions involving substantial sums of money. His financial dealings reportedly included extortion from various individuals, alongside constant manipulation and use of media influence,” the ED officials stated.
The investigative agency also noted that Langa is entangled in a ‘GST Input Tax Credit scam,’ which is currently under the ED’s scrutiny. According to the agency, Langa attempts to manipulate and obscure the true nature of the financial transactions related to this scam.
“The inconsistencies in his statements raised further suspicions about his efforts to conceal the origins and purposes of the utilization of funds,” the ED added.
Langa’s lawyer has previously denied all charges against him. He had also been arrested by the Gujarat Police before this recent investigation.