The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) and the State of Gujarat government on a plea for bail filed by journalist Mahesh Langa in a money laundering case linked to accusations of fraud against him.
A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi decided to examine the plea by Mr. Langa, represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, whose bail application had been earlier rejected by the Gujarat High Court. The case would now come up again for hearing after two weeks.
Mr. Sibal began by the chain of FIRs and cases being registered against Mr. Langa, indicating the criminal law process is being used as a tool for harassment.
But Justice Kant viewed the case sternly. “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,” Justice Kant addressed Mr. Sibal orally.
Mr. Sibal replied that said the cases lodged against his client were based on baseless allegations.
“In one FIR, he gets anticipatory bail, then a second FIR is lodged and again anticipatory bail is granted but now he is booked under third FIR for income tax evasion. There are other things also being arraigned against him,” Mr. Sibal submitted.
He urged the court to hear the plea in detail during the next hearing.
The High Court had denied bail to Mr. Langa on July 31 in the money laundering case on the ground that it would prejudice the prosecution case.
The ED has said it had arrested Mr. Langa on February 25 in connection with a money laundering probe.
The Gujarat Police has registered FIRs filed in Rajkot and Ahmedabad on the basis of complaints filed by Superintendents of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST), Anti Evasion Section. The allegations in the two cases refer to using fraudulent means to obtain GST registration to receive and transfer bogus Input Tax Credit.
Published – September 08, 2025 01:24 pm IST
