Today, On 8th September, The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Gujarat government and the Enforcement Directorate on journalist Mahesh Langa’s bail plea in a money laundering case. The bench remarked, “Some claim to be ‘patrakar’ on scooter, everyone knows what they do.”
The Supreme Court requested responses from the Gujarat government and the Enforcement Directorate regarding journalist Mahesh Langa’s bail application in a money laundering case associated with an alleged financial fraud.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued a notice on Langa’s plea, which challenges the Gujarat High Court’s denial of bail, while also questioning the nature of his journalism.
The bench asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented the petitioner,
“What kind of a journalist is he?”
The court remarked,
“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,”
In response, Sibal noted that these are merely allegations.
Sibal pointed out,
“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 against him,”
He also mentioned that there is a background to the case. The bench issued a notice and requested responses from the relevant authorities.
Earlier, On July 31, the Gujarat High Court had rejected Langa’s bail request in the money laundering case, stating that releasing him on bail would prejudice the prosecution’s case.
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The ED had arrested Langa on February 25 during a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged financial fraud, following his initial arrest in October 2024 for a GST fraud case.
The money laundering allegations against Langa are based on two FIRs filed by Ahmedabad Police, accusing him of fraud, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, cheating, and causing wrongful loss amounting to lakhs of rupees to various individuals.