On April 16, the Gujarat High Court issued a notice regarding a regular bail plea filed by journalist Mahesh Langa in connection with a money laundering case. The case stems from two cheating FIRs registered against him, which are considered the predicate offences for invoking the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Earlier, in November of the previous year, a sessions court had granted anticipatory bail to Langa in one of the FIRs. This particular FIR was filed by an individual who runs an advertising agency. The sessions court had observed that the dispute, based on the FIR contents, was essentially about non-payment of money, and was “primarily in civil nature.”
The court had further noted that the alleged cheating occurred between March 2023 and October of the same year, and the complainant failed to justify the delay in filing the complaint.
During the recent hearing, Justice MR Mengdey issued the notice to the State and other respondents, scheduling the matter for the next hearing on May 1.
“I'm issuing notice, returnable on May 1,” the court stated.
Advocate AJ Yagnik, representing Mahesh Langa, addressed the court by explaining the multiple cases already filed against his client.
“Before I open this matter, there were 6 FIRs against him. In one GST-related case, this Hon’ble Court granted bail. In two other cases, the Hon’ble Supreme Court granted bail. In the remaining three, anticipatory bail has been granted—two by the sessions court and one by this court’s coordinate bench. That case alleged I stole documents from the Gujarat Maritime Board. In all six FIRs, I am now on bail,” Yagnik submitted.
He also highlighted that after the Supreme Court granted bail in two cases, the PMLA was invoked against Langa, and he was arrested in February.
“There are predicate offences. In one, a person claims he paid me Rs. 23 Lakh via cheque to help promote his advertising agency,” he added.
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The complainant, according to Yagnik, initially received help from Langa but later claimed Langa stopped offering assistance. When the complainant asked for his money back, Langa allegedly refused.
“Therefore, an FIR was registered. Anticipatory bail was granted during the regular investigation by the Detection of Crime Branch. This FIR was filed right after the GST-related offence. The same complainant didn’t oppose the bail. Later, another complaint of similar nature was filed against me. It claimed that in a coffee shop, I asked for Rs. 20 Lakh in cash and was paid Rs. 40 Lakh in total, but I failed to provide any services.”
Yagnik mentioned that the second complainant also accused Langa of refusing to return the money when requested.
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“This is the main content in both cases where Section 420 of IPC has been alleged. Since anticipatory bail was already granted in both cases by the sessions court, these are now being used as predicate offences under PMLA. Over six months have passed, yet no chargesheet has been filed in either matter by the local police.”
He questioned the strength of the foundation for invoking PMLA based on such allegations.
“I am conscious that these are scheduled offences. Regardless of the normal investigation, they can be invoked. But where is the base? In one FIR, it’s a cash transaction with no evidence, and anticipatory bail was granted right away. In the other, involving a cheque, the sessions court called it a civil dispute,” Yagnik told the court.
Case title : MAHESHDAN PRABHUDAN LANGA v/s STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR.
R/CR.MA/7538/2025
