The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the Gujarat government and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the bail plea of journalist Mahesh Langa, who is facing charges in a money laundering case linked to an alleged financial fraud.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued notice on Langa’s petition challenging the Gujarat High Court’s order of July 31, which had denied him bail on the ground that releasing him would prejudice the prosecution.
During the hearing, the bench questioned Langa’s journalistic credentials. “What kind of a journalist is he? With due respect, there are some very genuine journalists. But there are also people who on their scooter say we are ‘patrakar’ (journalist) and what they actually do everybody knows,” the court remarked to senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for the petitioner.
Sibal countered the allegations, arguing that multiple FIRs had been successively filed against Langa. “In one FIR, he gets anticipatory bail, then a second FIR is lodged and again anticipatory bail is granted. Now, he is booked under a third FIR for income tax evasion. There are other things also against him, but there is background to the case,” he submitted.
The bench, while issuing notice, sought a reply from the Gujarat government and the ED.
Langa was first arrested in October 2024 in connection with a GST fraud case. On February 25, 2025, the ED formally arrested him in a money laundering investigation linked to the alleged financial fraud.
The money laundering case stems from two FIRs filed by Ahmedabad Police, which accuse him of fraud, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, cheating, and causing wrongful loss of lakhs of rupees to individuals.
Langa remains in custody as the matter proceeds, with the apex court now awaiting responses from the Gujarat government and the ED before deciding on his bail plea.
