Ahmedabad: Bahubali Shah, co-owner of Gujarat Samachar, was granted bail on medical grounds today after being arrested late Thursday night by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged money laundering case. The 73-year-old was taken into custody following income tax raids at several locations linked to him.

Shah, a director at Lok Prakashan Limited, the publisher of Gujarat Samachar, is associated with over 15 business entities. His elder brother, Shreyansh Shah, serves as the managing editor of the newspaper.

Soon after the arrest, Bahubali Shah was admitted to V. S. Hospital and later shifted to Zydus Hospital, where he is currently in ICU care due to health complications. It is learned that he is being evaluated for dizziness and vision issues by neurologists and cardiologists. The ED has not yet issued an official statement outlining the specific charges against him.

Shreyanshbhai Shah, Bahubali’s elder brother and Gujarat Samachar’s managing editor, told a daily that the authorities came around 6 pm with an arrest warrant for Bahubali without any prior notice. He also suggested that the case may be related to incidents that took place years ago.

Founded in 1932, Gujarat Samachar, one of Gujarat’s oldest newspapers, is published by Lok Prakashan Ltd. Currently, Bahubali Shah serves as one of its directors. His elder brother,Shreyansh Shah, continues to serve as the newspaper’s managing editor.

This arrest comes shortly after the death of Shreyansh Shah’s wife, Smrutiben Shah, on April 19. The arrest of Shah has also triggered sharp political reactions. Opposition parties, including the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, alleged that the BJP is using central agencies to stifle independent media. DeshGujarat