Overview

• Bahubali Shah, co-owner of Gujarat Samachar, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges of alleged money laundering following coordinated raids by the ED and Income Tax Department.
• Shah, 73, was hospitalized after his health deteriorated during custody and was later granted 15-day interim bail by an Ahmedabad court on medical grounds.
• The ED has not publicly detailed the specific charges against Shah, though the case reportedly involves financial transactions from decades ago.
• The arrests have drawn widespread criticism from opposition leaders and press organizations, who allege political vendetta against the newspaper for its critical reporting on the Modi government.
• Press bodies and political figures have called for transparency and adherence to due process, warning of the broader implications for press freedom and democratic values.