SC seeks ED's response on journalist's bail plea in money laundering case
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file its response within three days on a bail plea of journalist Mahesh Langa in a money laundering case linked to an alleged financial fraud.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the jailed journalist, to file rejoinder, if needed, to the ED's response within two days of it being filed.
The top court fixed the case for further hearing on December 15.
During the brief hearing on Monday, Sibal said a journalist has been facing as many as six cases.
"The journalist is accused of extortion," the counsel for the ED said and sought a short adjournment on the ground that Solicitor General Tuhar Mehta was unavailable at the moment.
The top court on September 8 sought responses from the Gujarat government and the ED on Langa's bail plea.
While issuing the notices on Langa's bail plea, the bench asked, "What kind of a journalist is he?"
"With due respect, there are some very genuine journalists. But there are also people who on their scooter say we are 'patrakar' (journalists) and what they actually do everybody knows," the bench told Sibal.
Sibal replied that these are all allegations.
"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 a third FIR for income tax evasion. There are other things also against him," Sibal submitted.
He added that there is a background to the case also.
On July 31, the Gujarat High Court rejected Langa's bail plea in the money laundering case on the grounds that if released on bail, prejudice would be caused to the prosecution case.
On February 25, the ED said it arrested Langa in a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged financial fraud.
He was first arrested in October 2024 in a GST fraud case.
The money laundering case against Langa stems from two FIRs filed by Ahmedabad police on charges of fraud, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, cheating and causing wrongful loss of lakhs of rupees to certain people.
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Community leaders come together to celebrate 28 years of Thumbay Group’s legacy in UAE
Sharjah: Members of the Karnataka community in the UAE gathered at Thumbay Villa in Sharjah on 6 December 2025 to mark the 28th anniversary of the Thumbay Group. The event brought together business leaders, community representatives and dignitaries to reflect on the Group’s growth and its contributions to education, healthcare and research in the region.
The programme opened with a visual presentation outlining the Group’s development under the leadership of Dr. Thumbay Moideen. In his welcome address, Dr. Moideen spoke about the organisation’s expansion over the past two decades and expressed gratitude to the UAE leadership and the Karnataka diaspora for their support.
Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U. T. Khader addressed the gathering, commending the entrepreneurial achievements of the Indian community in the Gulf. India’s Consul General to the UAE, Satish Kumar Sivan, highlighted the Thumbay Group’s role in strengthening ties between India and the UAE, noting its contributions to medical education and healthcare delivery.
Community leaders including Dr. Kaup Muhammad, Praveen Shetty, Mohammad Ali Uchil, Shashidhar Nagarajappa and Hidayath Addoor shared their observations on the Group’s journey and on the importance of collective progress within the diaspora.
A key part of the event was the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards to two industry and community leaders: Mohammed Meeran, Chairman of EMCO International and Electric Way, Dubai, and Dr. B. K. Yusuf, President of the Bearys Cultural Forum. Both were recognised for their long-standing contributions to business and community service in the UAE.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks, group photographs and a networking dinner. According to organisers, the gathering reflected the continuing engagement of the Karnataka community in the Gulf and acknowledged the Thumbay Group’s 28-year presence in the UAE.
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