Rajkot Police Take Custody of Journalist Mahesh Langa in New GST Evasion Investigation

Senior journalist Mahesh Langa, already incarcerated for a Goods and Services Tax (GST) scam in Gujarat, has been arrested again by Rajkot police. This new arrest is linked to another GST evasion case registered by the crime branch last month, according to an official statement on Friday.

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A team from the Rajkot crime branch took custody of Langa from Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad. They brought him to Rajkot for further investigation, stated Police Inspector and Investigation Officer SN Jadeja. However, Jadeja did not disclose details about Langa's alleged involvement in the GST evasion case.

GST Evasion Case Details

The Rajkot crime branch registered an FIR on November 27, implicating 12 individuals so far. The FIR targets owners of 14 firms, including Ahmedabad-based DA Enterprise, following a complaint by the Central GST office in Rajkot. Although Langa's name was absent from the FIR, he is alleged to have operated DA Enterprise.

The FIR accuses these firms of conspiring to claim fraudulent input tax credit (ITC) using fake bills and documents. This scheme reportedly resulted in a Rs 61.38 lakh loss to the government. ITC allows businesses to reduce tax liability by claiming credit for taxes paid on purchases, aiming to lower business costs.

Previous Allegations Against Langa

Langa, who worked with a prominent newspaper in Gujarat, faces three FIRs. The Ahmedabad Crime Branch first booked him in October for an alleged GST scam. Later, Gandhinagar police charged Langa and an unidentified Gujarat Maritime Board employee with theft after recovering official documents during raids related to GST fraud.

Additionally, Ahmedabad police accused Langa of defrauding a businessman of Rs 28.68 lakh. In past investigations, police revealed that Langa's wife Kavita and cousin Manoj were partners in a suspicious firm operated by him. The firm, DA Enterprise, reported a turnover of Rs 6.7 crore in 2022-23.

Financial Transactions Under Scrutiny

Kavita and Manoj later claimed innocence before a magistrate, asserting that Langa solely operated the firm. DA Enterprise allegedly routed money by inflating expenses through fake billings and receiving cash in return. Funds were transferred to Dhruvi Enterprise, withdrawn as cash, and routed back to Mahesh via hawala networks.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik explained this money-laundering process in October. The ongoing investigations aim to uncover further details about these financial transactions and any additional parties involved.