Mahesh Langa, Journalist from ‘The Hindu,’ Arrested by ED

Accused of extorting ₹20 lakh by promising media coverage in the newspaper

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested The Hindu journalist Mahesh Langa in Gujarat on February 25 in connection with a money laundering case. According to ED, Langa was involved in multiple financial fraud cases. His financial dealings allegedly included extortion, money manipulation, and leveraging media influence over various individuals. The ED also stated that he was involved in a GST Input Tax Credit Scam. The court has remanded him to four days of ED custody for further interrogation.

1. On 23 January, a case was registered against The Hindu journalist Mahesh Langa at Satellite Police Station in Ahmedabad. This complaint was filed by property dealer Janak Thakor, who accused Langa of extorting ₹40 lakh from him.

2. According to the complaint, Langa told Thakor that having his name published in The Hindu would benefit his business significantly. In January 2024, Langa allegedly took ₹20 lakh from Thakor and mentioned his name in an article. Later, he demanded another ₹20 lakh.

3. Journalist Mahesh Langa was previously arrested on October 8, 2024, in connection with a GST fraud case.

Editorial Perspective

If these allegations are true, it is yet another example of the declining integrity of journalism. Such journalists weaken democracy and should be sentenced to life imprisonment with vigorous labour.