Journalist Mahesh Langa moves Gujarat HC against 10-day police remand in alleged GST fraud case
Ahmedabad: Mahesh Langa, Senior Assistant Editor at The Hindu, has approached the Gujarat High Court challenging the 10-day police remand granted by a magisterial court in an alleged Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud case.
Langa was taken into custody on October 7, following a complaint by the Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGI), which accused him of being involved in a scheme of fraudulent firms defrauding the government by availing bogus Input Tax Credit.
A single judge bench of Justice Sandeep N Bhatt heard the matter on October 11 and asked the state's counsel to obtain instructions, listing the matter for further hearing on October 14. During the hearing, Langa’s counsel, senior advocate Jal Unwala, argued that the magistrate had granted the remand without assessing the need for it, despite Langa not being named in the FIR.
The plea argues that the magistrate’s order was a "verbatim reproduction" of the investigating officer’s remand application, lacking independent application of mind. Langa's counsel contended that he had no connection with the fraudulent firms, and the Investigating Officer had not provided any evidence linking him to the transactions.
Langa remains in police custody until October 18.
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B'desh: Lawyer killed in clash between security personnel, followers of Hindu leader
Dhaka, Nov 26: A lawyer was killed on Tuesday during clashes between the security personnel and followers of a Hindu community leader, who was denied bail and sent to jail by a Bangladesh court, according to local media reports.
The victim was identified as Saiful Islam, a 35-year-old assistant public prosecutor and a member of the Chattogram District Bar Association, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.
Citing Dr Nibedita Ghosh, a duty doctor at the emergency department of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, the paper said that six others were injured in the clashes that erupted after Chattogram’s Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate court denied bail to prominent Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, arrested on sedition charges.
Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Chittagong Lawyers' Association, said that protesters dragged a lawyer from beneath his chamber and hacked him to death.
As Das was being taken away in a police van, he addressed the crowd through a hand mike, urging them to remain calm.
Around 3 pm, the law enforcement agencies resorted to sound grenades, tear gas shells, and baton charges, dispersing the protesters.
Deputy Commissioner of City Police Liaquat Ali confirmed one death but said they were still investigating the cause.
The Daily Star newspaper reported that at least 10 people, including journalists, were injured during the clash.
