On December 8, 2025, the Supreme Court asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file its response within three days on journalist Mahesh Langa's bail plea in a money laundering case related to financial fraud. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, also asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Langa, to file a rejoinder within two days after ED's response. During the hearing, Mr. Sibal said that Langa faces six cases. The ED's counsel accused Langa of extortion and requested a short adjournment, citing the absence of Solicitor General Tuhar Mehta. The Supreme Court had earlier asked the Gujarat government and ED to respond on the bail plea. The bench questioned, "What kind of a journalist is he?" and remarked on some people falsely claiming to be journalists. Mr. Sibal countered these as mere allegations. Mr. Sibal detailed that Langa received anticipatory bail in two FIRs, but was now booked under a third FIR for income tax evasion. He also mentioned background details to the case. On July 31, the Gujarat High Court had rejected Langa's bail plea citing possible harm to the prosecution if bail were granted. Langa was arrested by ED on February 25 in the money laundering probe, which links back to two FIRs filed by Ahmedabad police involving charges of fraud, criminal misappropriation, breach of trust, cheating and causing wrongful loss of lakhs of rupees. Previously, Langa was arrested in October 2024 in a GST fraud case. The Supreme Court fixed the matter for further hearing on December 15, 2025.