Malini Parthasarathy, Director at The Hindu Group Publishing, former chairperson of The Hindu Group and one of the founding directors of The Hindu Centre, has criticized the Editors Guild’s condemnation of further charges against a journalist, Mahesh Langa from The Hindu. She underscores the importance of accountability in journalism, arguing that journalists are not above the law and should not be shielded from investigations related to personal conduct. Parthasarathy asserts that the charges against the journalist arise from personal actions rather than his reporting.
On 28 October 2024, the Editors Guild of Indian issued a statement that read, “The Editors Guild of India has noted with concern the registration of a second FIR against Mr. Mahesh Langa, a senior assistant editor for The Hindu in Gujarat, for allegedly possessing some ‘confidential documents’ pertaining to the Gujarat Maritime Board. Journalists are often required to access and review sensitive documents in the course of their work, and initiating punitive action against them for doing their work is worrisome. The Guild is aware that Mr. Langa has already been in detention over complaints regarding certain GST violations in his personal capacity before the second FIR was filed. EGI hopes that Mr. Langa will not be deprived of fair and speedy justice. It is important that the Gujarat police disclose details about the second set of accusations leveled against him over possessing the confidential documents. That the second FIR is not accessible to the public online, which since the police have reportedly put it under the ‘sensitive category’, is of grave concern. The Editors Guild stands for the freedom of the press and reiterates the need to create a conducive environment across the country that allows all journalists to pursue their professional duties responsibly. ”
EGI Statement on the FIR against journalist Mahesh Langa for possession of confidential documents pic.twitter.com/VrrdDErL2M
— Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) October 28, 2024
In response, Malini Parthasarathy criticized the Editors Guild’s stance, arguing that it is inappropriate to portray the arrest of a journalist on serious charges as an attack on press freedom. She emphasized that no journalist is above the law and that shielding journalists from accountability undermines the profession. She clarified that the FIRs against Mahesh Langa are not connected to his work at The Hindu but involve separate allegations that necessitate investigation.
Parthasarathy lamented that the situation, which pertains to individual accountability, has been misrepresented as an infringement on journalistic rights. She questioned how Langa’s freedom of expression as a journalist is being compromised and asserted that protecting press freedom should not excuse unlawful behavior.
She underscored the need for journalists to adhere to ethical standards, maintain distance from their sources, and ensure transparency in their dealings. Such integrity is crucial for enhancing the moral credibility of journalism. Ultimately, she argued that the profession deserves the highest standards of integrity, given the trust placed in it by millions of readers.
Malini Parthasarathy via her official X account stated, “To cry foul when a journalist is arrested on what are evidently serious charges that require investigation & to allege that this is a case of an attack on the freedom of the press is wrong & does injustice to the essence of journalism-the pursuit of truth. No journalist is above the law. Press associations & journalists do no favour to this great profession by shielding journalists from accountability for their actions that have nothing to do with the publications they work for. The two FIRs against Mahesh Langa are not filed on the basis of reports filed by him @the_hindu & are for other charges that require further investigation. It is unfortunate that this incident centering solely on an individual answerable in his private capacity for his own actions, has taken on the colour of an attack on press freedom & said to be a violation of his journalistic rights. In what way is his freedom of expression as a journalist being attacked? If we really care about the sanctity of press freedom, we should ensure that such freedom is not abused to shield anybody from facing the consequences of breaking the law. Journalists have an obligation to stay true to the canons of reporting, to maintain distance from their news sources, to ensure transparency in their dealings with business & political contacts so that the content they offer the public is untainted by commercial considerations. It is vital that reporters & editors welcome such investigations into their dealings, it will enhance their moral credibility when they come out unscathed. The respect that journalism as a profession commands and the trust that millions of readers & users place in our news content deserve the highest standards of probity. Nothing less.”
To cry foul when a journalist is arrested on what are evidently serious charges that require investigation & to allege that this is a case of an attack on the freedom of the press is wrong & does injustice to the essence of journalism-the pursuit of truth.
No journalist is above… https://t.co/YpUfo63hhr— Malini Parthasarathy (@MaliniP) October 28, 2024
The Hindu Journalist – Mahesh Langa
Shocking details have emerged regarding Mahesh Langa, a journalist with The Hindu, who is entangled in a GST fraud investigation. Reports indicate that he has been living well beyond his salary, allegedly accumulating crores over the past two years.
Investigations suggest that Mahesh exploited his journalistic role to engage in blackmail, settlements, and other illicit activities, reportedly earning millions through these ventures. His name has also come up in connection with the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive government documents, leading to an FIR filed in Gandhinagar.
Despite an annual income reportedly only in the lakhs, a recent search by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch at his residence uncovered Rs 20 lakhs in cash, along with expensive jewelry and property documents. Additionally, Mahesh and his wife reportedly frequented luxury hotels such as the Oberoi and Taj Man Singh, staying at these establishments over 98 times in the past year without covering any of the costs themselves.
The investigation revealed that his extravagant lifestyle was largely financed through shell companies. He also frequently traveled by chartered flights, racking up significant expenses. Notably, he hosted a lavish birthday party attended by prominent businessmen and city officials, paying a Rs 5 lakh advance for the venue and gifting gold coins to each guest.
Furthermore, it was reported that Mahesh acquired government documents not for journalistic purposes, but to blackmail officials and government entities. Official statements claim that these documents did not contain any incriminating information against the government.
Complicating matters, both his wife and brother have reportedly spoken out against him. Initially, the FIR named his brother, Manoj Langa, but later investigations revealed that Mahesh’s wife was involved with the company under scrutiny. During questioning, she claimed ignorance of the situation and attributed the actions solely to Mahesh.
Following a raid at the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) office, another FIR was filed in Gandhinagar. When brought in for questioning, Mahesh alleged that he was being targeted due to his journalistic work, but this defense did not hold up, leading to his arrest.
The investigation uncovered communications between Mahesh and specific officials, supported by chat logs found on his devices. Authorities discovered that he had obtained private information about the GMB, prompting a search of their office in Gandhinagar. Several documents were seized, resulting in another FIR against him at the Sector 7 police station. The inquiry is still in its early stages, and police have not yet taken him into full custody.
Currently, Mahesh’s bail plea in the GST fraud case has been denied by the Ahmedabad Metropolitan Court, and he is being held at Sabarmati Jail. As the investigation continues, there are indications that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) may also get involved, with preliminary inquiries reportedly already underway.
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