Journalist Mr. Mahesh Langa, who was the Gujarat correspondent for “The Hindu” newspaper, has been arrested by Ahmedabad police.

On October 08, 2024, the Crime branch arrested the senior journalist with a leading newspaper, and 20 others, in an alleged Goods and Service Tax (GST) fraud, after questioning. He was sent to Sabarmati Central Jail under judicial custody. Days later, he was booked in another by Gandhinagar police for possession of confidential documents of Gujarat Maritime Board. A 3rd FIR was filed against the journalist by the proprieter of an ad agency for cheating.

The Ahmedabad police stated the possession of confidential documents of the Gujarat maritime board as a reason for arrest. Journalists and reporters who do investigative stories are regularly required to access and base their reports on confidential documents. To arrest a journalist for possessing a document would tatamount to an injustice.

Free media is an extremely important fourth pillar of the Indian democracy. Our Constitution gives journalists the right to exercise freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(a) of the Indian Constitution, which is crucial to the work of HRDs, including journalists.

We urgently appeal to you to exercise Section 12 (a) of the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019, and take Suo moto cognizance of this incident and initiate an independent inquiry regarding the arrest of Mr. Langa through NHRC’s investigation wing.