Statements by Press Club of India & the Editor’s Guild over Second FIR against Journalist Mahesh Langa

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Press Statement

28th October 2024

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.

Regards,
Anant Nath, President
Ruben Banerjee, General Secretary
K Ve Prasad, Treasurer