The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to The Hindu journalist Mahesh Langa in a money laundering case, Bar and Bench reported.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi reportedly restrained Langa from writing any article about the allegations against him. It also ordered the special court to take up the money laundering case trial on a daily basis for recording the statements of nine remaining witnesses in the trial. 

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, who opposed the proposal to grant interim bail, said it will be as good as “final relief”, according to LiveLaw. When the bench directed the matter to be posted for January, Mehta reportedly said, “It can be on any date. Now that he is out, it doesn’t make a difference.”

Earlier, Gujarat High Court had denied bail to Langa on July 31.

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.

Newslaundry has reported in detail on the case and the allegations against Langa. Read this to understand the story behind the journalist’s arrest.

Twenty-five years have transformed how we consume news, but not the core truth that democracy needs a press free from advertisers and power. Mark the moment with a joint NL–TNM subscription and help protect that independence.