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‘Not before this court’: Gujarat HC judge recuses himself from hearing journalist Langa’s plea against FIR

This FIR was filed against the senior journalist for allegedly possessing confidential files of the Gujarat Maritime Board

Langa, a senior Assistant Editor with The Hindu, was booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections after an FIR by the Gandhinagar police in October last year. (Express File Photo)

Justice Sandeep Bhatt of the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday recused himself from hearing journalist Mahesh Langa’s plea seeking quashing of an FIR filed against him for allegedly “possessing confidential files” of the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB).

In an oral order, which was uploaded on Wednesday, Justice Bhatt said, “Not before this court” when the matter was listed on Tuesday.

Langa, a senior Assistant Editor with The Hindu, was booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections pertaining to criminal breach of trust by professionals, theft, criminal conspiracy, influencing public officials, bribing a public official, and other sections after an FIR by the Gandhinagar police in October last year.

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Langa’s plea sought quashing of the FIR on the grounds that the allegations were “based on conjecture” as it has been alleged in the FIR that Langa had procured the documents from “an unidentified employee” of the GMB by “using an unauthorised channel”.

Earlier this month, the Gujarat High Court had granted Langa bail in one of the five cases filed against him. However, he will continue to remain in judicial custody due to the other cases.

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