We, the undersigned journalist organizations condemn the registration of a second FIR by the Gujarat police against senior journalist Mahesh Langa in a span of less than a month. Langa is presently in judicial custody. He was arrested earlier this month by the Ahmedabad crime branch on an alleged case of GST fraud, even though he was not mentioned by name in the primary FIR.
The second FIR was registered against him on October 22 following a complaint by the Gujarat Maritime Board for allegedly being in possession of certain documents. It is shocking that the mere possession of documents can be used by the state to register a FIR against a citizen and in this case, a journalist of considerable standing. It is axiomatic that journalists will, due to the nature of their profession and in the pursuance of public interest, be in possession of all kinds of material, including documents, accessed from various sources. To implicate and incriminate mediapersons for the mere possession of documents is tantamount to a fundamental assault on the profession itself.
We appeal and demand that the FIR be withdrawn and the harassment caused to Mahesh Langa be ceased forthwith. We also call upon the Press Council of India to step in and perform its mandate of safeguarding the freedom of the press.
Gautam Lahiri
(President)
Press Club of India
Sd/-
Delhi Union of Journalists
Indian Women’s Press Corps
Press Association
Kerala Union of Working Journalists
