SC regularises interim bail granted to Gujarat-based journalist in cash laundering case| India Information
New Delhi, The Supreme Courtroom on Friday confirmed its earlier order of granting interim bail to journalist Mahesh Langa in a cash laundering case linked to a matter involving an alleged monetary fraud lodged by the Enforcement Directorate at Ahmedabad.
The highest courtroom on December 15 final yr had granted the interim bail to Langa and stuck the case for additional listening to on April 10.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi took observe of the submissions of Solicitor Basic Tushar Mehta, showing for the probe company, and mentioned the interim order is confirmed.
The bench agreed to the rivalry of Mehta that the observations made within the bail order shall not be construed as remarks on deserves of the case. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal had represented Langa.
Earlier, opposing the bail plea, the solicitor common had mentioned, “Journalists extorting cash and saying that if you don’t pay, I’ll write in opposition to you is a severe offence.”
The bench had granted the reduction and ordered a day-to-day trial within the case and imposed sure circumstances on the journalist, together with asking him to not write any article in any media outlet about his sub-judice case and search any adjournments earlier than the particular courtroom.
“The petitioner will furnish the bail bonds to the satisfaction of the designated particular courtroom below the PMLA,” it mentioned, including, “The particular courtroom is directed to take up the case on a day-to-day foundation for consideration of cost and if cost is framed, recording the statements of all of the 9 witnesses.”
The bench directed Langa and his counsel within the trial courtroom to increase “full cooperation to the particular courtroom”, and mentioned “no adjournment shall be sought or permitted on the bottom that quashing proceedings are individually pending earlier than the excessive courtroom”.
It mentioned this situation is being imposed because the excessive courtroom has not granted a keep on the trial proceedings.
“The Directorate of Enforcement shall additionally cooperate with the particular choose for taking on the case on a day-to-day foundation,” the apex courtroom mentioned.
Langa will likely be at liberty to lift all authorized contentions, objections and defence pleas, and place the fabric for the particular courtroom’s consideration in accordance with legislation, it added.
“The petitioner shall not publish or write any article in his place as an assistant editor of a newspaper with respect to the allegations, that are sub-judice in opposition to him, earlier than the particular choose at Ahmedabad,” the bench mentioned.
It additionally made it clear that the interim bail is being granted topic to the petitioner’s “good conduct and behavior”.
On July 31, final yr, the Gujarat Excessive Courtroom rejected Langa’s bail plea within the case on the grounds that if he’s granted the reduction, prejudice could be triggered to the prosecution case.
On February 25, 2025, the ED mentioned it arrested Langa in reference to a money-laundering investigation linked to an alleged monetary fraud.
The journalist was first arrested in October 2024 in a Items and Companies Tax fraud case.
The cash laundering case in opposition to Langa stems from two FIRs filed by the Ahmedabad Police on expenses of fraud, prison misappropriation, prison breach of belief, dishonest and inflicting wrongful lack of lakhs of rupees to sure folks.
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