The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file its response within three days on a bail plea moved by journalist Mahesh Langa in a money laundering case arising out of an alleged financial fraud.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Langa, to file a rejoinder, if required, within two days after the ED places its reply on record. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on December 15.
During the short hearing, Sibal submitted that Langa has been saddled with as many as six cases. The counsel representing the ED countered, stating, “The journalist is accused of extortion,” while seeking a brief adjournment citing the unavailability of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta at the moment.
The bench took note of its earlier hearing on September 8, when it issued notices to the Gujarat government and the ED on Langa’s bail plea and posed sharp queries on his professional conduct. “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’ and what they actually do everybody knows,” the court remarked, prompting Sibal to respond that the allegations remain unproven.
Sibal argued that Langa had obtained anticipatory bail in two earlier FIRs, yet a third FIR was later registered, this time alleging income tax evasion. “There is a background to the case,” he submitted, while questioning the sequence of criminal proceedings.
On July 31, the Gujarat High Court had rejected Langa’s bail application in the money laundering case, holding that his release at this stage would cause prejudice to the prosecution.
The ED arrested Langa on February 25, stating that the money laundering investigation was linked to an alleged financial fraud. He was first arrested in October 2024 in a GST fraud case. The present case stems from two FIRs registered by Ahmedabad police, accusing him of fraud, criminal breach of trust, cheating, criminal misappropriation, and causing financial loss running into several lakhs to multiple individuals.
