Why such extra hue and cry? Gujarat High Court as The Hindu journalist withdraws plea against remand

The Gujarat High Court on Monday questioned the "hue and cry" surrounding the matter of Mahesh Langa, a journalist with The Hindu, who has been arrested in a case involving allegations of Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud [Mahesh Prabhudan Langa v. State of Gujarat and Anr].

Justice Sandeep N Bhatt asked why the case was "so publicised" and went on to observe that every person is the same before the Court, whether it be a politician, a reporter or otherwise.

"Why is it so publicized? Every citizen is a citizen. We don't want any publicity, at least during the course of adjudication. This is not fair. It seems some attempt was made ... We are not carried away by such attempts. That is not proper. He may not be interested in that publicity, but whoever is behind it.. because entire petition is published or some of it ... That should not happen. Certainly, there was some ... I don't want to now disclose since you are withdrawing," the judge said.

The Court made the comments after Langa's counsel sought to withdraw his plea challenging a magistrate's decision to remand him to police custody for ten days.

Langa had filed the plea to challenge a magistrate court's decision to remand him to police custody for ten days, after his October 8 arrest by the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) in a case that involved GST fraud.

When the matter was taken up last week, the State's counsel had informed that they were yet to receive a copy of the petition. The Court, therefore, adjourned the case till today after ordering Langa's counsel to serve the papers on the State.

When the matter was taken up today, Langa's counsel informed that the journalist wished to withdraw his plea.

Justice Bhatt sought to know why the plea was being withdrawn and whether there had been any subsequent development. However, the counsel submitted that he did not have any information in this regard.

At this stage, the Court questioned the alleged attempts to publicise the case.

"Whoever it is - even politician, reporter or some normal citizen, the court of law is court of law. When we consider, it is on merits. Why such extra hue and cry? I have given immediate circulation to you," the Judge said.

At this stage, the lawyer submitted that there was nothing against the Court.

"It amounts to that impliedly, not by you but whoever is trying to make such attempt," Justice Bhatt said in response.

In his plea, Langa had contended that the magistrate's court remanded him to a 10-day police custody without having recorded any findings as to how he was involved in the offence alleged against him.

It further stated that his arrest was politically motivated and the same had been done to bar him from pursuing journalistic activities.

When the matter came up before the Court on October 11 (Friday), Langa's counsel had submitted that there was nothing to show that he was even remotely connected to one of the 220 shell companies that, as per the FIR, were established using forged documents as part of the alleged scheme to falsely claim input tax credit (ITC)

Langa was arrested on the morning of October 8 by the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) along with three others in Gujarat.

His arrest came after 13 firms and their owners were booked for allegedly committing fraud while claiming input tax credit, based on a complaint by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI).