The Gujarat Police filed another first information report against journalist Mahesh Langa on Tuesday, accusing him of allegedly cheating a businessman in Ahmedabad, as reported by the Deccan Herald. This marks the third case against Langa since October 8, and he is currently detained at Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad.

The complainant in the case filed on Tuesday is Pranay Shah, the owner of an advertising firm. According to the police, Mahesh Langa, a journalist with The Hindu in Ahmedabad, allegedly offered to assist Shah in securing “positive news” coverage by utilising his political and bureaucratic contacts. It is reported that Langa received a total of Rs 48 lakh at various times from the businessman, as stated by an unidentified official from the Ahmedabad Detection of Crime Branch, according to the Deccan Herald.

Mahesh Langa is currently in judicial custody in connection with an alleged Goods and Services Tax-related scam. The police have claimed that a company named Dhruvi Enterprise established six firms using a single Permanent Account Number to fraudulently obtain input tax credits. Among the companies mentioned in the first information report is DA Enterprise, which is owned by Langa’s cousin, Manoj Langa. Additionally, the journalist’s wife is listed as a silent partner in the firm, with no rights to conduct transactions or access bank accounts.

Press organisations have called on the police to withdraw the case against Mahesh Langa, who is accused of possessing confidential government documents. In a joint statement released through the Press Club of India on Monday, the Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Association, Delhi Union of Journalists, and Kerala Union of Working Journalists emphasised that journalists often handle various documents from multiple sources as part of their dedication to serving the public interest. The Editors Guild of India also expressed concern over the “worrisome” actions taken against Langa in a statement issued on the same day.