The case of senior journalist Mahesh Langa, already embroiled in an alleged Goods and Services Tax (GST) scam, has taken a darker turn with his arrest in another GST evasion case. This development stems from an FIR registered last month by the Rajkot crime branch. Langa was taken into custody on Friday from Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad and transferred to Rajkot for further interrogation, confirmed Police Inspector and Investigation Officer SN Jadeja.&nbsp;
While authorities have remained tight-lipped regarding Langa's direct involvement in this latest case, earlier allegations paint a troubling picture. The FIR, lodged on November 27, accuses owners of 14 firms, including Ahmedabad-based DA Enterprise, of participating in a wide-reaching conspiracy to misuse the GST framework. The scheme allegedly involved issuing fake bills to fraudulently claim input tax credit (ITC), resulting in a government revenue loss of ₹61.38 lakh.&nbsp;
The ITC mechanism is intended to streamline business operations by offsetting taxes paid on purchases. However, investigators allege that firms in this case manipulated the system to inflate expenses using bogus billings, ultimately routing cash back to themselves through hawala channels.&nbsp;
Mahesh Langa&rsquo;s connection to DA Enterprise has been highlighted, although his name was initially missing from the FIR. Reports claim that Langa exclusively operated the firm despite it being registered under the names of his wife, Kavita, and cousin, Manoj. Both individuals have since denied involvement, asserting that Langa managed all business activities. DA Enterprise reportedly recorded a turnover of ₹6.7 crore in the 2022-23 fiscal year.&nbsp;
Langa&rsquo;s legal troubles extend beyond this case. Previously, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch implicated him in a GST scam in October. Subsequently, Gandhinagar police booked him and an unidentified Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) employee for theft after official documents linked to the GST scam were recovered during raids at his premises. Additionally, he faces allegations of defrauding a businessman of ₹28.68 lakh.&nbsp;
Authorities believe the fraudulent activities were elaborate and deeply rooted. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik earlier stated that DA Enterprise funneled money through artificial expense inflation, using fake billings. The cash was rerouted via another entity, Dhruvi Enterprise, to reach Langa.&nbsp;
So far, 12 individuals have been arrested in connection with the Rajkot crime branch&rsquo;s investigation. These arrests underscore the pervasive misuse of GST mechanisms, exposing systemic vulnerabilities and unethical practices.&nbsp;
The case not only highlights the misuse of India&rsquo;s GST framework but also points to how seemingly unrelated individuals exploit legal loopholes for personal gain. Langa&rsquo;s position as a journalist lent credibility to his operations, potentially enabling him to evade detection for a prolonged period.&nbsp;
With investigations ongoing, authorities aim to uncover the full extent of this corruption network and the losses inflicted on government revenue.&nbsp;
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Multiple cases reveal corruption, tax fraud, and misuse of GST in Gujarat

Gujarat Journalist in Deep Water Over GST Evasion Charges

Multiple cases reveal corruption, tax fraud, and misuse of GST in Gujarat

December 21, 2024 | 06:12 IST