New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim bail to Gujarat-based journalist Mahesh Langa in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged financial fraud in Ahmedabad.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant directed a special court to conduct a day-to-day trial in the matter and imposed strict conditions on the journalist while granting relief. The court instructed Langa not to seek any adjournments during the trial and restrained him from publishing or writing articles related to the pending case.
The Bench warned that any violation of the conditions could lead to the cancellation of bail. The court also made it clear that it would closely monitor compliance with its directions.
Opposing the bail plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, argued that the allegations were serious in nature and claimed that extortion by a journalist warranted a strict view. He submitted that the accused did not deserve bail considering the gravity of the offence.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Langa, countered the arguments by stating that the journalist had not committed a heinous crime and had been in judicial custody since October last year. He urged the court to consider the prolonged incarceration and the fact that the trial had not yet begun.
The Supreme Court said it would review the ED’s status report on compliance with the bail conditions when the matter is listed again on January 6. Notably, charges have not yet been framed in the case, and the ED has cited nine witnesses so far.
Earlier, on July 31, the Gujarat High Court had rejected Langa’s bail plea, citing concerns that his release could adversely affect the prosecution’s case. The ED had arrested Langa on February 25 this year in the money laundering case, which is linked to two FIRs registered by Ahmedabad police alleging fraud, criminal breach of trust, cheating and misappropriation of funds. He was initially taken into custody in October 2024 in connection with a GST fraud case.
