NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday confirmed its earlier order granting interim bail to journalist Mahesh Langa in a money laundering case linked to a matter involving alleged financial fraud filed by the Enforcement Directorate, Ahmedabad.
On December 15 last year, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Langa and fixed the case for further hearing on April 10.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalia Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the probe agency, and said the interim order has been confirmed.
The bench agreed with Mehta’s contention that the observations contained in the bail order should not be construed as observations on the merits of the case. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal was representing Langa.
Earlier, opposing the bail application, the Solicitor General said, “Extorting money from journalists and saying that if you don’t pay, I will write against you is a serious crime.”
The court had granted the exemption and ordered a daily trial in the case and imposed certain conditions on the journalist, including asking him not to write any article in any media outlet about his subsidiary case and requesting any postponement before the special court.
“Petitioner will post bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Special Court appointed under the Philippine Emancipation Act,” she said, adding that “the Special Court is directed to hear the case on a daily basis to consider the charges and, if charged, record the statements of all nine witnesses.”
The bench directed Langa and his counsel at the lower court to provide “full cooperation with the special court” and said “adjournment may not be sought or allowed on the ground that the annulment proceedings are separately pending before the Supreme Court.”
She said that this condition was imposed because the Supreme Court did not allow the trial proceedings to be halted.
“The Enforcement Directorate should also cooperate with the special judge to hear the case on a day-to-day basis,” the Supreme Court said.
He added that Langa will be free to raise all legal allegations, objections and defense requests, and submit materials for consideration before the special court in accordance with the law.
“The petitioner shall not publish or write any article in his capacity as assistant editor of a newspaper in relation to the allegations which are before the sub judiciary against him, before the Special Judge, Ahmedabad,” the bench said.
It also clarified that interim bail is granted on the condition of “good conduct and behavior of the petitioner”.
On July 31 last year, the Gujarat High Court had rejected Langa’s bail application in the case on the grounds that if relief was granted, it would damage the prosecution’s case.
On 25 February 2025, the Executive Directorate said it had arrested Langa in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged financial fraud.
The journalist was first arrested in October 2024 in a goods and services tax fraud case.
The money laundering case against Langa stems from two FIRs lodged by the Ahmedabad Police on charges of fraud, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, cheating and causing wrongful loss of thousands of rupees to certain persons.
This article was generated from an automated news feed without any modifications to the text.
