Gujarat Samachar owner Bahubali Shah arrested by ED
Bahubali Shah, co-owner and director of Gujarat Samachar-one of Gujarat’s largest and most influential daily newspapers-was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on May 16, 2025. The arrest followed extensive raids conducted by both the Income Tax Department and the ED at multiple locations associated with Shah, his family, and their business interests. Shah, 73, is a director at Lok Prakashan Limited, which publishes Gujarat Samachar and operates GSTV, and is linked to over 15 business entities.
The ED’s action is reportedly connected to a money laundering case, though as of now, the agency has not released an official statement specifying the exact charges or the details of the alleged financial irregularities.
The case is believed to stem from proceedings before the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) initiated in 2016, related to the misuse of funds for initial public offerings of firms.
The arrest came after two days of coordinated searches at more than 24 premises linked to Bahubali Shah, his family, and related business entities, including real estate ventures and the GSTV news channel.
Shah was hospitalized after his health deteriorated following the arrest, and he was granted interim bail on health grounds until May 31, 2025.
Shah’s family, including his brother and Gujarat Samachar’s editor-in-chief Shreyans Shah, alleges that the arrest is politically motivated, linking it to the newspaper’s anti-establishment editorial stance.
They claim that Shah was detained without prior written notice and that authorities pressured him to confess to unspecified matters.
The arrest has triggered a political storm, with leaders from Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal, accusing the ruling BJP of misusing central agencies to intimidate and silence critical media voices.
Bahubali Shah remains out on interim bail due to health reasons, and the investigation by the ED is ongoing. The incident has intensified debates about press freedom and the role of investigative agencies in India.
