Gujarat Police Initiates Third Case Against Journalist Mahesh Langa for Cheating

New Allegations Emerge Amid GST Fraud Investigation on Journalist Mahesh Langa

In a developing story, the Gujarat Police have filed a third case against journalist Mahesh Langa, who is currently in custody for alleged goods and services tax (GST) fraud. This latest case was registered on Tuesday in Ahmedabad following a complaint from Pranav Shah, the owner of Khushi Advertising. Shah has accused Langa of cheating him out of ₹28.68 lakh, intensifying the scrutiny surrounding the journalist’s activities.

The previous cases against Langa have raised significant concerns, particularly one involving the Gujarat Maritime Board, which has implications for national security due to its connections to port operations. Authorities assert that Langa, who works as a correspondent for The Hindu in Ahmedabad, misused his journalistic credentials to access sensitive information and personnel, operating under various false pretenses as a financial broker and lobbyist.

Allegations of Deceit and Lavish Living

According to a statement from the Ahmedabad Police, Langa’s extravagant lifestyle, which includes frequent stays in five-star hotels and luxury travel, has led investigators to delve deeper into his financial dealings. The police are collaborating with the Income Tax Department to scrutinize Langa’s income sources, which have raised red flags among authorities.

Shah’s complaint details a series of transactions where he claims to have transferred ₹23 lakh to Langa for advertising services, along with an additional ₹5 lakh for a birthday party hosted by Langa for his wife. Shah alleges that Langa promised to repay these amounts in cash but later refused, leading to intimidation tactics from the journalist.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik noted that Shah has provided substantial evidence, including bank transaction records, to support his claims. The investigation has revealed a complex network involving shell companies and fraudulent transactions, further implicating Langa in an elaborate GST fraud scheme that allegedly cost the government significant tax revenue.

The Shell Company Connection

Investigators uncovered that the fraudulent activities began with a shell company named Dhruvi Enterprises, which was established using the credentials of a farm laborer. This company was allegedly involved in generating fake bills and falsely claiming input tax credits to evade GST obligations. A report from the Director General of GST Intelligence stated that the investigation into Langa’s dealings expanded to include 12 other companies linked to Dhruvi Enterprises.

At the center of this investigation is DA Enterprises, a company co-owned by Langa’s wife. Investigators noted that DA Enterprises exhibited a suspicious growth trajectory, jumping from a turnover of ₹21 lakh in 2020-21 to ₹6.7 crore by 2022-23. Langa is alleged to have orchestrated a change in the company’s ownership structure to facilitate this growth.

Evidence and Ongoing Investigations On Journalist Mahesh Langa

Authorities have indicated that Langa operated DA Enterprises and have secured digital evidence corroborating their claims. They also suspect that funds were diverted to another company, Nisarg Enterprises, which was established in 2023 by Langa’s brother and his wife. During searches conducted at 19 locations across Gujarat, investigators identified that similar credentials, including mobile numbers and PAN cards, were used to create approximately 220 suspected shell companies.

Furthermore, the police discovered ₹20 lakh in unaccounted cash at Langa’s residence, raising further questions about the disparity between his lavish lifestyle and declared annual incomes of ₹9.48 lakh for him and ₹6.04 lakh for his wife until the fiscal year 2022-23.

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