The Gujarat High Court on Thursday granted bail to journalist Mahesh Langa in connection with a cheating and forgery case. 
Langa stands accused of cheating and forgery in a case registered by the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB), Ahmedabad. There are allegations of his involvement in a firm which defrauded the government exchequer by availing &ldquo;bogus&rdquo; Input Tax Credit.
In its order, the high court, said, &ldquo;Prima facie, this court is of the opinion that this is a fit case to exercise discretion and enlarge the applicant on regular bail.&nbsp;Hence, the present application is allowed.&rdquo;
The bench ordered Langa&rsquo;s release on execution of a personal bond of ₹10,000 with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court and subject to the conditions.
However, the order states that the&nbsp;authorities will release Langa &ldquo;only if he is not required in connection with any other offence for the time being&rdquo;.
Thus, despite receiving bail in the Ahmedabad case, Langa will not walk out of jail yet. He is also an accused in a second FIR registered by Rajkot police. It was alleged in the complaint that over 220 firms were created fraudulently across the country to defraud the government exchequer by availing and passing forged Input Tax Credit (ITC) and to evade duty by fraudulent means like fake bills and forged documents.
Langa had moved before the high court after his bail plea was rejected by the sessions court.

Journalist to remain in jail due to another case linked to alleged GST fraud

Mahesh Langa Gets Bail in Cheating Case

Journalist to remain in jail due to another case linked to alleged GST fraud

January 9, 2025 | 19:51 IST