Gujarat Samachar owner's arrest by ED sparks political uproar

In a development that has sparked political uproar and renewed concerns over press freedom, Bahubali Shah, co-owner of the influential Gujarati daily Gujarat Samachar, was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) late Thursday, 16 May, on charges of financial irregularities. The action comes days after the Income Tax Department conducted searches at properties linked to the Shah family and the media house.

Following the raids, the ED reportedly searched additional premises associated with the newspaper and its owners. The government also moved to block the official X (formerly Twitter) account of Gujarat Samachar, soon after the paper published sharp editorials in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.

The arrest has triggered a sharp backlash from opposition leaders. Gujarat Congress President and Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil condemned the action, alleging it was politically motivated. “The family was mourning the recent loss of their matriarch, Smritiben, when these raids began. Bahubalibhai is a senior citizen with health concerns. This is nothing short of harassment by the Modi government. Free press is being targeted for not falling in line,” Gohil posted on X.

He further alleged that Gujarat Samachar, known for its independent editorial stance, had drawn the ire of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for criticising the government during the recent India-Pakistan diplomatic tensions.

Echoing similar sentiments, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Gujarat President Isudan Gadhvi termed the move as an “attempt to strangle journalism in the state.” He claimed that both Gujarat Samachar and its television counterpart GSTV had been subjected to coordinated raids by the IT department and the ED within a span of 48 hours.

Veteran journalist Sheela Bhatt also took to social media to raise concerns over the manner of the arrest. According to her, Shah’s health deteriorated after the detention, prompting a transfer from a government hospital to Zydus Hospital in Ahmedabad.

His brother and business partner, Shreyansh Shah, was seen attending to him. Bhatt noted that the Shah family has long been involved in media as well as other business ventures and are considered influential voices in Gujarat's political landscape.

The incident adds to a growing list of ED actions that have come under judicial scrutiny. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court, while hearing a separate case, noted a pattern in ED’s functioning, highlighting how allegations were often made without adequate substantiation.

The court also raised questions over the agency’s low conviction rate. Data shared in Parliament in 2023 revealed that out of 5,297 cases filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act between 2014 and 2024, only 40 had resulted in convictions, with just three acquittals.

As of now, the ED has not issued a detailed public statement outlining the specific charges against Bahubali Shah. However, the development has once again brought to the fore the contentious debate over the use of central investigative agencies and their perceived role in targeting dissenting media voices.