Bahubali Shah, the owner of Gujarat Samachar, one of the state’s most prominent newspapers known for its firm stance against the ruling establishment, is in ED custody after a series of coordinated searches were carried out late Thursday night by the Income Tax Department with support from the ED at premises linked to him.
The Congress party has linked the arrest of Bahubali Shah to the daily’s critical coverage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government, particularly its reporting on the recent India-Pakistan tensions, suggesting that the arrest was politically motivated.
Bahubali Shantilal Shah is the director associated with both Gujarat Samachar and the affiliated news channel GSTV. The searches began early Wednesday across several premises linked to Shah’s family, including their residence, media offices, and associated business entities.
The operation involved multiple teams from the Mumbai income tax unit, with support from the State Reserve Police Force and local law enforcement in Ahmedabad.
The Congress alleged that the arrest came just hours after the tax department initiated its operations and was not coincidental. It argued that Gujarat Samachar’s recent editorial line had drawn the government’s ire, especially in the wake of the India-Pakistan fallout, which it claimed was met with disproportionate punitive action. The party suggested that the central agencies had been weaponised to silence a dissenting media voice in a state where much of the press aligns closely with the ruling party’s narrative.
Gujarat Samachar, founded in 1932, has long been regarded as a rare critical voice in Gujarat’s media environment, where government-friendly outlets dominate. The newspaper has consistently reported on governance failures and alleged policy shortcomings, and it has previously faced retaliatory measures such as cuts to advertisement revenues from the state government.
In recent days, the newspaper’s digital presence also came under strain after its official X account was suspended by the central government, a move that was not accompanied by any formal explanation.
As part of the ongoing operation, officials from the Income Tax Department questioned staff, seized mobile phones, and restricted movement within the premises of GSTV and Gujarat Samachar. Employees reported that both night and morning shift personnel were denied access to their personal devices for several hours. Even as editorial and digital operations continued, the news outlet refrained from reporting on the raids, reportedly awaiting clearance from senior editorial figures.
In addition to media ventures, the Shah family holds substantial interests in real estate, construction, and financial services. Bahubali Shah is listed as a director in 15 companies, while other family members, including editor-in-chief Shreyans Shah and his sons, are connected with numerous firms operating across sectors.
With no official statement yet released by the Income Tax Department, the exact nature of the financial fraud allegations remains unclear. However, the opposition's assertion that the arrest is part of a broader attempt to suppress independent journalism has intensified political tensions in Gujarat, reviving concerns over press freedom and misuse of investigative agencies.