The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Bahubali Shah, the co-owner of Gujarat's largest daily Gujarat Samachar, in connection with a money laundering case. Shah, who is associated with more than 15 business entities, was taken into custody following raids at multiple locations linked to him.
Shah is one of the directors of Lok Prakashan Limited, which publishes the Gujarat Samachar newspaper and GSTV channel. His elder brother, Shreyansh Shah, is the managing editor of the newspaper.
Following his arrest, Shah was hospitalised after his health deteriorated. The federal anti-money laundering agency has yet to release an official statement detailing the reasons for the arrest.
Shah's arrest has sparked a major political storm, with the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) targeting the ruling BJP in Gujarat. Both parties have accused the BJP of misusing central agencies to intimidate and silence the media.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal described the arrest as the BJP’s attempt to force independent media to fall in line with the government.
"The Gujarat Samachar is fearless in its critique of the Modi-led BJP regime. The ED arrest of owner Bahubali Shah is the BJP’s way of making independent media bend and toe the regime’s line," Venugopal tweeted.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also slammed the BJP over the arrest, calling it "a sign of the frustration" of the party, "which wants to silence every voice that speaks the truth and asks questions".
"The raids by IT and ED on Gujarat Samachar and GSTV in the last 48 hours, and then the arrest of their owner Bahubali Bhai Shah - all this is not a coincidence. This is a sign of the frustration of BJP, which wants to silence every voice that speaks the truth and asks questions. The people of the country and Gujarat will answer this dictatorship very soon," the former Delhi Chief Minister said.
Joining the debate, Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that this is the fate of those who dare to speak the truth and call out the emperor’s new clothes.
"Late last night the ED arrested Bahubali Bhai Shah of Gujarat Samachar. The 93-year-old newspaper has 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 said.
Gujarat MLA and Congress state working president Jignesh Mevani also hit out at the ED, saying Gujarat Samachar and its owners are being targeted because, for the last 25 years, the newspaper has been publishing reports critical of the central government.
