Ahmedabad, 16 May 2025 — Bahubali Shah, co-owner of the prominent Gujarati daily Gujarat Samachar, was arrested late Thursday night by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) following extensive raids on the newspaper’s offices and associated premises. The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities.
The ED conducted searches at 24 locations, including the Gujarat Samachar headquarters in Khanpur, Ahmedabad, the residences of Bahubali Shah and his brother Shreyansh Shah, and the offices of GSTV, a television channel linked to the Shah family. These actions followed earlier operations by the Income Tax Department, which had initiated a series of searches across multiple locations in Ahmedabad and surrounding areas, targeting various entities including builders, investors, and stock market brokers.
Following his arrest, Bahubali Shah was initially taken to VS Hospital for a mandatory medical examination. However, at his request, he was subsequently transferred to Zydus Hospital on SG Highway for further evaluation.
Gujarat Samachar, established in 1932, is one of the leading vernacular newspapers in the state, with a significant readership and influence. The Shah brothers, Bahubali and Shreyansh, have been at the helm of the publication for several decades.
The ED has not yet released an official statement detailing the specific charges or findings from the raids. However, sources indicate that the investigation pertains to suspected financial discrepancies within the operations of the newspaper and its affiliated entities.
Shreyansh Shah, editor-in-chief and managing director of Gujarat Samachar, has alleged that the arrest is politically motivated. He stated that the ED summoned and arrested his brother without any prior written notice after raids lasting 36 hours. He also mentioned that the ED raids pertained to some transactions 20 years ago, all of which were conducted through banks, and emphasized that they are ready to fight the matter in court.
The opposition Congress has condemned the arrest, alleging it was politically motivated. Gujarat Congress President and Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil claimed that the move was a direct consequence of Gujarat Samachar’s critical coverage of the Narendra Modi government, particularly its recent reporting on the India-Pakistan conflict.
The ED has not issued an official statement on the matter yet.
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