Mahesh Langa of The Hindu arrested by ED in money laundering case

Ahmedabad: The Enforcement Directorate Tuesday arrested a Gujarat-based journalist in a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged financial fraud, officials said.

Mahesh Langa, a correspondent for The Hindu newspaper in Gujarat, was taken into custody and produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court in Ahmedabad, they said.

Also read: Gujarat Police, ED allege Mahesh Langa received Rs 18 crore, had luxury lifestyle

The court sent Mahesh Prabhudan Langa to ED custody till February 28, the officials said.

The money laundering case against Langa stems from two FIRs filed by the Ahmedabad Police on charges of committing fraud, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, cheating and causing wrongful loss of lakhs of rupees to certain people.

Also read: Gujarat cops file theft case against jailed scribe Mahesh Langa after recovery of govt documents from him

Langa's lawyer had earlier denied the charges made against him.

The reporter was found to have engaged in multiple "fraudulent" financial transactions involving large sums of money, as per the ED.

It alleged that his financial dealings involved "extortion" from various individuals, constant manipulation, and "use of media influence."

Also read: Media bodies slam The Hindu reporter Langa's arrest, term it 'overreach'

The federal probe agency claimed that Langa was involved in GST Input Tax Credit "scam", which is also being investigated by the ED.

"Langa has tried to manipulate and obscure the true nature of financial transactions involved in cheating and GST Input Tax Credit scam. The inconsistencies in his statement raised further suspicion about his attempts to hide the origins and purpose of the utilization of funds" the agency alleged.