Gujarat High Court Denies Regular Bail To Journalist Mahesh Langa In Alleged Case Of GST Fraud

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday (February 6) dismissed the regular bail plea of journalist Mahesh Langa in an alleged case of GST fraud including the fraudulent availing of Input Tax Credit and forgery of documents registered by Rajkot police. Justice MR Mengdey while pronouncing the order said, "Dismissed". The court in its order while dismissing the bail plea said that it is not inclined to exercise its judicial discretion in favour Langa "at this stage". In its order the court noted that it appeared from the present FIR that, "several other" FIRs appear to have been lodged against Langa. Langa's counsel referred to the court's January 9 order granting bail to Langa in an alleged cheating case, arguing that the FIR was pertaining to similar offence registered against Langa. However, the high court said, that in the other FIR Langa was arrested on October 8, 2024 and had been in jail for three months, where investigation was virtually over. It noted that in the present case, the FIR was lodged on November 27, 2024 and the investigation of the offence alleged "is still in progress". "Moreover, after registration of the F.I.R., wherein the applicant has been considered for grant of bail by this Court, several other offence of similar nature have been registered against him. Having regard to this aspect, this Court is not inclined to exercise its judicial discretion in favour of the applicant at this stage. The application is dismissed," the court said. The court had reserved its verdict on January 28 after hearing the matter at length wherein the State had contended that Langa is an influential person and that he has been booked in another FIR too for theft of highly confidential government documents.The State then argued that Langa is neither the owner nor a partner of D.A. Enterprise but influenced its operations and management, witnesses including the operators of the firm at present stated that he was involved in illegal purchase of invoice.The State then pointed out that an FIR was filed against him for possessing confidential documents stolen from a government body that is at the stage of investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Therefore, the State urged the Court, considering his influence and the nature of the allegations that a detailed investigation is necessary. He lastly contended that Langa is a journalist and not a trader or a partner which is a "separate class", and hence Langa's petition needs a different consideration as compared to other petitioners who were before the court.Meanwhile Langa's Counsel argued that the FIR involving government documents from the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) were recovered from his home by Ahmedabad DCB Crime. He said that those documents were provided to him by "Essar company which is seeking permission to establish a port at Jamnagar and Adani Limited is coming in the way". He said that these documents pertained to "Gujarat Maritime Board and Adani Limited" arguing that "before the May 2024 elections Adani wanted a policy from state of Gujarat for renewal of lease for certain ports which is coming to end in 2031".Langa's Counsel also argued that that creating fake bills is not forgery or cheating referring to judgments of the High Court. He then contended that if a violation of GST exists, the state can pursue separate proceedings. He then lastly pointed out that Langa's passport is with the authorities and witness statements have been recorded urging the Court to release him on bail.Langa had sought for regular bail (before chargesheet) after the dismissal of regular bail application by the District and Sessions Court, Rajkot. The complaint was filed with the Police Station, Rajkotregarding the alleged evasion of GST by the Superintendent of CGST, AntiEvasion Section, HQ, GST Commissionerate, Rajkot. It was alleged in the complaint that over 220 firms were created fraudulently across the country to defraud the Government Exchequer by availing and passing forged Input TaxCredit (ITC) and to evade duty by fraudulent means like fake bills and forged documents.The FIR has been registered by Rajkot Police Station under Sections 420(Cheating dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 465 (Punishment forForgery), 467 (Forgery of valuable security), 468 (Forgery intended to cheat),471 (Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record), 474(Possession of forged documents with intent to use as genuine) and 120B(Criminal conspiracy) of IPC.Case Title: Maheshdan Prabhudan Langa vs State of Gujarat & Ors.Case Number: CR.MA/1199/2025 | CR.MA/1253/2025 Case Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Guj) 20Click Here To Read/Download Order

Gujarat High Court Denies Regular Bail To Journalist Mahesh Langa In Alleged Case Of GST Fraud

Lovina B Thakkar

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