Ahmedabad:
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Ahmedabad Zonal Office has filed a complaint of prosecution against journalist Mahesh Prabhudan Langa under the provisions of prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The complaint was submitted before the Special Court (PMLA), Ahmedabad on 17 April.
The ED shared this information through a press statement released on Monday. Ed launched an FIR on an FIR to detect the Crime Branch (DCB) Police Station, Ahmedabad City. The FIR accused Mr. Langa of cheating and criminal violations.
In addition, another FIR was lodged against him for forcible recovery by satellite police station, Ahmedabad.
Following these developments, Mr. Langa was arrested by the ED under Section 19 of the PMLA and is currently in judicial custody.
The ED investigation has revealed that Mr. Langa allegedly misused his status and media connections to withdraw money from individuals. According to the agency, he threatened to publish a defamation news article about the complainants until he paid them a large amount.
This alleged form of manipulation in the media formed the basis of his forced recovery strategy, resulting in financial losses to several lakh rupees for many individuals.
The agency said in a statement that further investigation inspired the ED to set up a money trail related to the income of crime allegedly generated by Mr. Langa.
On 9 April, the agency issued an provisional attachment order to seize the property acquired through illegal means. The attached asset includes a real estate – an office place located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
The case has attracted the attention of important public and media, especially the role of Mr. Langa has been given as a journalist associated with a national publication.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)
