TRENDING

Days After Govt Blocked X Account, ED Arrests Gujarat Samachar Owner In Financial Fraud Case

The Congress has slammed the BJP-led Union government over the arrest of the newspaper's owner, with party's state president saying that the newspaper was targeted for standing up for the truth.

Gujarat Samachar owner Bahubali Shah Edited by
Days After Govt Blocked X Account, ED Arrests Gujarat Samachar Owner In Financial Fraud Case

Days After Govt Blocked X Account, ED Arrests Gujarat Samachar Owner In Financial Fraud Case (Photo on X@SaralPatel)

Ahmedabad, Gujarat: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted a late-night operation, detaining Bahubali Shah, one of the owners of the leading Gujarati daily Gujarat Samachar, days after the probe agency raided the offices of the newspaper. The arrest is reportedly on charges of financial fraud.

Notably, the Union Government blocked the X account of the media house following the Pahalgam terror attack. During the 2019 Pulwama attack, rightwing handles such as OpIndia published stories criticising the newspaper for blaming Prime Minister Modi for the terrorist attack that killed 44 soldiers. Many right-wing social handles hurled abuses at the newspaper for questioning the government’s alleged failure to protect Jawans.

Read Also: Turkish Broadcaster TRT World’s X Account Blocked In India Amid ‘Boycott Turkey’ Call

After the government withheld the X account of the newspaper last week, right-wing handle Sinha had called Gujarat Samachar newspaper  as “The Wire of Gujarat.” “It is now withheld in India for continuously running an anti-India narrative. The wire, The Quint, Bloomberg, BBC, Newsloudry etc. should be banned too,” Sinha who identifies as Hindu right activist wrote on X.

 

The Congress has slammed the BJP-led Union government over the arrest of the newspaper’s owner. Congress Gujarat president and MP Shaktisinh Gohil alleged that Shah was targeted for doing his job.

“Punishment for standing up for the truth has been the motto of the BJP government. Leading Gujarati newspaper Gujarat Samchar has always stood up against power, whoever it is. However, showing a mirror to the BJP Government and PM Modi in the recent India – Pakistan fallout has ensured that Modi let out his favorite toolkit, his hounds. Income Tax(IT) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have pounced upon Gujarat Samachar and its television channel besides other business entities,”  the Congress MP wrote on his social media platform.

Read Also: The Wire Calls Out “Blatant Censorship” After Website Blocked In India

The Congress leader then pointed out that Shah’s family was reeling from grief following the death of their matriarch Smritiben, about three weeks back when the raids happened. “Bahubalibhai is a senior citizen with health issues.  I strongly condemn this excess by the Modi govt. The media doing its job is being ruthlessly targeted. The BJP should know that not every media is Godi and ready to sell their soul,” Gohil further noted.

 

Congress leader Sarel Patel pointed out that Gujarat Samachar, the most influential daily newspaper of Gujarat, has been “highly critical of the BJP-Modi government,” noting that the central probe agency’s action is a blatant attack on the freedom of the press.

 

Reacting to the mediator’s arrest, Congress leader Pawan Khera highlighted that the 93-year-old newspaper had been a bold anti-establishment voice. “This is the fate of those who have the guts to openly say that the emperor is naked,” Khera wrote on X

 

 

 

Topics
Bahubali Shah ED arrest Enforcement Directorate Gujarat Samachar Owner Gujarat Samachar owner Bahubali Shah pahalgam terror attack Pulwama terror attack X account blocked

Related