The Bombay High Court has once again brought designer Riyaz Gangji into the spotlight - this time with a non-bailable warrant . It’s the kind of headline that instantly grabs attention, but it also raises a simple question: who is he, really?





Who is Riyaz Gangji?

If you’ve spent any time around Mumbai’s fashion or wedding circuit, chances are you’ve heard of him. Riyaz Gangji is the man behind Libas , a menswear label that made its mark with classic Indian occasion wear. Think sharp bandhgalas, elegant sherwanis, and those Indo-western outfits that grooms love when they want to look traditional but not boring.





His store on Peddar Road wasn’t just another retail space - it was one of those places people associated with “premium” dressing. Over time, he built a certain image: polished, well-connected, and catering to a high-end clientele.





But here’s the thing - while the brand was growing, so were the controversies.





Why is he in the news now?

The latest trouble comes from a case that’s been simmering for a while. The Bombay High Court has taken a serious view of a complaint involving unpaid dues to a real estate firm based in Ludhiana. We’re not talking small numbers here - the amount reportedly runs into crores.





The court has now asked for Gangji to appear in person and has also put restrictions in place, basically saying he and his company can’t sell or move around their assets for now.





Not his first run-in with legal trouble

This isn’t exactly out of the blue. There have been similar complaints in the past too - mostly around payments not being cleared. In fact, there were even cheating cases registered with the Mumbai Police against him and his wife.





There have also been claims that he filed complaints of his own, citing threats from creditors. Critics say this may have been a way to slow things down legally - but that’s something still tied up in allegations and counter-allegations.





And then, the fire

As if things weren’t dramatic enough, the same day saw a fire break out at his Libas store in the Sukh Shanti Building on Peddar Road. Thankfully, no one was hurt. But Gangji said the damage could be around ₹3 crore.





Right now, it’s a mix of fashion, business, and legal drama playing out all at once. Once known mainly for his designs, Riyaz Gangji is now making headlines for very different reasons—and it looks like this story is far from over.