New Delhi

The Supreme Court of India on Friday confirmed its earlier order granting interim bail to Gujarat-based journalist Mahesh Langa in a money laundering case investigated by the Enforcement Directorate.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi took note of submissions by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and ordered that the interim bail granted on December 15 last year be made absolute.

The court clarified that observations made in the earlier bail order would not influence the merits of the case. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for Langa.

While granting relief earlier, the court had directed a day-to-day trial and imposed conditions, including that Langa refrain from writing or publishing any article related to his sub judice case. He was also asked not to seek adjournments before the special court.

The bench directed that the journalist furnish bail bonds to the satisfaction of the designated special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). It further instructed the trial court in Ahmedabad to conduct proceedings on a day-to-day basis, including framing of charges and recording statements of witnesses.

The court emphasised that both the accused and the Enforcement Directorate must fully cooperate to ensure expeditious proceedings. It also barred adjournments on the ground of parallel proceedings pending before the high court, noting that no stay had been granted on the trial.

Langa has been given liberty to raise all legal arguments before the trial court in accordance with law.

The case pertains to a money laundering probe linked to alleged financial fraud based on FIRs registered by Ahmedabad Police, involving charges such as cheating, criminal breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds.

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The Gujarat High Court had earlier rejected Langa’s bail plea in July last year, citing concerns of prejudice to the prosecution. He was subsequently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in February 2025, following an earlier arrest in October 2024 in a GST fraud case.