Supreme Court grants interim bail to journalist Mahesh Langa in money laundering case

The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim bail to The Hindu journalist Mahesh Langa in a money laundering case..As bail condition, the bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi restrained Langa from writing any article with respect to the allegations against him.It also ordered the special court to take up the money laundering case trial on day to day basis for recording the statements of nine remaining witnesses in the trial. While directing Langa to extend full cooperation for the trial, it clarified that he shall seek no adjournment on the ground of pendency of his quashing petition."Let Enforcement Directorate furnish a status report on the compliance of the above conditions," the Court ordered as it listed Langa's plea for consideration on January 06, 2026.Langa was arrested by Gujarat Police last year in a case in a case involving allegations of Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud. He was later booked in other cases as well. The Enforcement Directorate also stepped in later and registered a case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against him.Today, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for Langa in the plea seeking bail in the money laundering case. However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta vehemently opposed the plea."A journalist is found to be extorting money. We want to file an additional counter. They say if you don't pay I will print something," he said.However, Sibal said,"I have filed a counter to their reply. Now they want to file an additional counter. What right do you have ? They say 68 crores fraud and it is not even 68 lakhs" .Sibal also said that no chargesheet has been filed in the predicate offence, which is the basis for PMLA case. "Saying I am influencing witnesses is shocking. I have disclosed details of all FIRs. This is very very disturbing. Since October 2024, I am inside for what offence. It's not murder!" Sibal argued.Sibal also alleged that some documents have not been provided to Langa."There is no supplementary complaint. Give me the documents on this one crore. You cannot have it both ways," he said..Considering that only nine witnesses remain to be examined in the trial, the Court granted Langa interim bail. Soon after the Court passed the order, an exchange of words took place between Sibal and Mehta.Referring to the allegations against Langa, Mehta said that the journalist was extorting money. In response, Sibal said, "Industrialists targeting journalists...!"However, Mehta said there was no political agenda behind the case. "We are only professionals here and no political agenda here." In response, Sibal said,"Are you saying we are not professionals? "Amid the exchange, CJI said that the trial should not be delayed. "Let him not misuse his position as a journalist etc," CJI Kant said.Sibal submitted that bail can be cancelled for any such violation..Earlier, Gujarat High Court had denied bail to Langa on July 31..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.